Best 20 Tarragon Butter Recipes

FLOUNDER WITH BROWN BUTTER, LEMON AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Put flour in a low bowl or pie plate and stir in a generous amount of salt and pepper and a pinch of cayenne.
• Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and tilt pan to coat bottom.
• Season the fillets lightly with salt and pepper. Dip each fillet quickly into flour mixture, shaking off excess flour.
• Lay fillets in skillet in one layer. Cook for about 2 minutes per side, until golden. Transfer cooked fish to a warm platter.
• Leave the heat at medium-high and add cold butter. Let butter sizzle until foamy and brown, but do not let it burn. Add lemon juice, parsley and chopped tarragon and swirl to incorporate.
• Spoon butter sauce over fish. Garnish with a few tarragon leaves and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH TARRAGON-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Pat scallops dry and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper (total).
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until foam subsides, then sear scallops, turning once, until golden brown and just cooked through, about 5 minutes total. Transfer to a platter.
• Add shallot, wine, and vinegar to skillet and boil, scraping up brown bits, until reduced to 2 tablespoons. Add juices from platter and if necessary boil until liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Reduce heat to low and add 3 tablespoons butter, stirring until almost melted, then add remaining 3 tablespoons butter and swirl until incorporated and sauce has a creamy consistency. Stir in tarragon and salt to taste; pour sauce over scallops.

STEAMED MUSSELS WITH WHITE WINE, TARRAGON, SHALLOTS, BUTTER, AND GRILLED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Sprinkle garlic with a pinch of salt and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the garlic to a coarse paste. Heat the oil in a stockpot on the grates of the grill, add the shallots and garlic and cook until shallots soften. Add the wine, bring to a boil and stir in the mussels. Cover the pot and cook the mussels until all of them have opened, about 6 to 8 minutes, discard any that do not open.
• Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Bring the cooking liquid to a simmer and whisk in the butter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and stir in the tarragon. Pour the mixture over the mussels and serve immediately with grilled bread.
• Brush cut side of baguette with oil, season with salt and pepper and grill, cut side down until lightly golden brown.

BROILED SALMON WITH TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Melt butter with lemon juice in small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and add generous amount of pepper. Arrange salmon skin side down on broilerproof pan. Brush with half of butter mixture. Season with salt. Broil without turning until just cooked through. Transfer to plates. Add tarragon to remaining butter. Spoon over salmon and serve.

WARM BUTTER-POACHED LOBSTER SALAD WITH TARRAGON-CITRUS DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 2 tablespoons salt and the vinegar. Plunge lobster head-first into water; cook 3 minutes (meat will not be fully cooked). Transfer lobster to a cutting board.
• Using a kitchen towel to protect your hands, twist off tail and claws; discard body. Twist fan off end of tail, and push meat out of shell. Alternatively, use kitchen shears to cut up length of tail, and pull shell away from meat. Cut tail meat in half lengthwise, and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels; set aside. Separate claws from knuckles; twist and pull off pincers, being careful to keep meat intact. With back of knife, crack knuckle end of claw to loosen shell. Gently remove whole piece of meat; set aside with tail. Using your finger or the handle of a spoon, push knuckle meat out of shell. Wipe any white residue off meat. Meat can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 hours ahead; bring to room temperature before poaching.
• Remove peel and pith from tangelo using a sharp knife. Working over a bowl, carve out flesh between membranes, allowing segments to drop into bowl. Squeeze juice from membranes into bowl. Transfer juice in bowl to a separate bowl; reserve juice for dressing.
• Put 1/3 cup juice into a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth. Add a pinch of salt and the tarragon sprig. Submerge lobster meat in the butter sauce. Poach until opaque and cooked through, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
• Whisk 3 tablespoons warm poaching liquid into 2 tablespoons reserved juice in bowl; whisk in pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add lobster to dressing; toss gently to coat. Just before serving, add tangelo segments and tarragon leaves; toss gently to combine. Season with salt.
• Arrange 2 lettuce leaves on each serving plate. Place lobster and tangelo segments on top. Spoon dressing over top.

TARRAGON-ROASTED HALIBUT WITH HAZELNUT BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread hazelnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8-10 minutes. Coarsely chop; set aside.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Scatter tarragon sprigs on a large rimmed baking sheet. Place halibut on top, drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast until halibut is just opaque in the center, 20-30 minutes, depending on thickness of fish.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, until butter foams, then browns (don't let it burn), about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let brown butter cool slightly. Stir in lemon juice, hazelnuts, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Serve fish with hazelnut brown butter sauce and lemon halves.

PAN-SEARED CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook shallot in 1 tablespoon butter in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add wine and boil until most of liquid is evaporated, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Pat chicken dry and sprinkle all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté chicken in 3 or 4 batches, turning over once, until golden and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer as cooked to a platter and keep warm, loosely covered with foil.
• Return shallot mixture to moderately low heat and add remaining 3 tablespoons butter, 1 cube at a time, whisking until incorporated. Remove from heat and whisk in tarragon, parsley, lemon juice, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Spoon sauce over chicken.

SCALLOPS WITH TARRAGON CREAM AND WILTED BUTTER LETTUCE

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté 3 minutes. Add wine; boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add cream, 3 teaspoons tarragon, and Pernod, if using. Simmer until sauce coats back of spoon, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper; cook until brown and almost cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer scallops to plate. Add lettuce to drippings in skillet; toss until beginning to wilt, about 1 minute. Spoon sauce onto 2 plates; divide lettuce between plates. Place 4 scallops on each plate; sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon tarragon.

FINGERLING POTATOES WITH TARRAGON CHIVE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert in a large pot. Add enough water to reach the bottom of the steamer. Add in potatoes. Cover and bring to a boil; steam until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Transfer garlic butter to a mini food processor. Add remaining butter, creme fraiche, chives, and tarragon; pulse until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Drain potatoes and place in a bowl. Gently break open using the back of a large spoon, but do not mash. Mix in about 1/2 of the garlic-herb butter. Season with salt and pepper.

ROASTED VEGETABLES WITH GARLIC-TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 500°F. Arrange vegetables in single layer on 2 large baking sheets. Stir butter, garlic and tarragon in heavy small saucepan over low heat until butter melts. Whisk in wine and oil. Brush vegetables with all of butter mixture; sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• Roast vegetables 10 minutes. Turn vegetables over, reverse position of baking sheets and roast until vegetables are tender and browned in spots, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer vegetables to large platter. Serve with lemon wedges.

TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter with an electric mixer. Mix in lemon juice, tarragon, black pepper, and shallot. Season to taste with salt. Chill for at least 1 hour.

EASY STEAMED ARTICHOKES WITH TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Make a bowl of acidulated water: Fill a large bowl with cold water. Squeeze the juice of 2 lemons into bowl along with the lemon halves; set aside.
• Using a serrated knife, cut off 1/2 inch from the top of an artichoke. Remove any small leaves from the bottom and trim stem so artichoke can stand upright. Use kitchen shears to trim sharp tips of artichoke leaves. Transfer to acidulated water, and repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Fill a large pot with about 2 inches of water and add tarragon and a pinch of salt. Set steamer basket in pot, making sure water doesn't seep through holes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a rapid simmer.
• Place artichokes stem side up in steamer and season with salt. Cover pot and steam until bottoms of artichokes are very tender when pierced to the center with the tip of a paring knife, about 40 minutes. (Add more hot water if necessary to maintain level during cooking.)
• To make the tarragon butter: Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat, then stir in chopped tarragon and lemon juice, and season with salt.
• Place an artichoke on each plate, remove the center leaves and with a spoon gently scrape down to the heart. Serve with lemon wedges and warm tarragon butter on the side for dipping.

HOT LOBSTER ROLL WITH LEMON-TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• To par-cook the lobsters: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lobsters and cook about 7 minutes; they will be about three-quarters done. Drain well and let cool. Cut in half lengthwise.
• Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling. Brush the cut-side of the lobsters with some oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill, cut-side down, until slightly charred. Flip and continue grilling until lightly charred and heated through. Remove the lobsters from the grill and let cool slightly.
• Brush the insides of the hot dog buns with some oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until just toasty.
• Remove the tail and claw meat from the lobsters. You can cut them, but just enough to give you about 2 very large pieces per bun. Drop them into the Lemon-Tarragon Clarified Butter and give them a good soaking. Spoon the lobster into the toasted buns and serve immediately.
• Melt the butter slowly in a medium saucepan over low heat. Let it sit for a bit to separate. Skim off the foam that rises to the top, and gently pour into a bowl, leaving behind the milk solids, which have settled to the bottom of the pan.
• Put the clarified butter in a large saute pan over low heat. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and tarragon, and season with salt, pepper and cayenne if desired.

STEAMED POTATOES AND CARROTS WITH TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir together butter, parsley, chives, and tarragon in a small bowl until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Butter can be refrigerated, covered, up to 2 days.
• Fill a medium pot fitted with a steamer insert with 2 to 3 inches water. Bring water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add potatoes to insert; sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt, and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low. Steam until potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes. Add carrots; cover, and steam until vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter. Spoon about 2 tablespoons tarragon butter over vegetables. Serve immediately with remaining butter on the side.

TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Beat all ingredients until blended. Shape into a log; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to several months,

SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Blanch sugar snaps in a 4-quart pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, 1 minute. Drain in a colander. Immerse colander with sugar snaps in a large bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, about 1 minute. Drain again well, then transfer to paper towels and pat dry.
• Cook shallot in butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 1 minute. Increase heat to high, then add sugar snaps and sauté, stirring occasionally, until sugar snaps are crisp-tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Add tarragon, zest, salt, and pepper and toss until combined well.

BAKED SALMON WITH TARRAGON AND FENNEL-SEED BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir butter, chopped tarragon, fennel seeds, lemon peel and lemon juice in small saucepan over low heat until butter melts. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange salmon on baking sheet. Brush butter mixture over salmon. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450°F. Bake salmon until just opaque in center, about 12 minutes. Transfer salmon to plates. Garnish with lemon slices and tarragon sprigs.

FILET MIGNON WITH TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Rub steaks with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• Heat medium skillet over medium-high heat. For rare steak, cook filets until instant thermometer reads 130 degrees, about 10 minutes, turning once (for filets cooked to a greater doneness, turn down heat and increase cooking time). Transfer to serving plate and tent loosely with aluminum foil.
• Place pan on medium heat; melt butter until it begins to brown slightly, scraping up any browned bits. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add tarragon, swirling to blend. Pour sauce over steaks. Serve immediately.

LEMON TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Beat all ingredients until blended. Shape into a log; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to several months.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Stir together butter, zest, tarragon, salt, and pepper.
• Pat chicken dry and arrange, skin sides up, in a shallow roasting pan (1 inch deep). Loosen skin on chicken by gently working your fingers between skin and meat, keeping skin attached on 1 side and being careful not to tear skin. Rub butter mixture evenly under skin of each piece of chicken, then rub top of chicken with butter remaining on your hands. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake chicken in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into fleshy part of chicken (do not touch bone) registers 170°F, about 30 minutes.