Say goodbye to teaspoon-sized dots of butter languishing on a tiny dish. Slabs of the ultimate comfort food are headlining dinner party menus. TikTok creator Justine Doiron recently launched the “butter board” trend in a viral video that showed more than a million viewers how to re-imagine butter (and its sidekick, crusty bread) as the next iteration after charcuterie and cheese boards.
There are no rules to curating a butter board, but I do have some gentle suggestions. For one, let’s keep safety in mind. You’ll want to use a board made out of a nonporous material, not a wooden one with cracks and crevices. To avoid communal contamination, provide cheese or butter knives so people can scoop from the board without touching the food with their fingers or bread.
A butter board is a thrifty option compared to meat and cheese boards, so splurge on the best quality ingredients you can find, like fuller-fat European butter. Whip the butter for easy spreading. Layer additional flavors on top. I use one or more of the following elements to create a balance of texture and taste.
Salt: Use unsalted butter as the base, then add table salt to taste during the whipping stage, and/or a flurry of fleur de sel on top. Try this: table salt + diced olives + feta crumbles
Sweet: Honey and fruit jams are easy additions. When whipped, they tint the butter a lovely hue. Or simply spread them on top for a more vibrant shade and flavor. Try this: honey + strawberry preserves + basil leaves
Savory: Deepen the butter with layers of extra umami like garlic confit, chopped bacon, cheese crumbles or nuts. Try this: truffle oil + shaved Parmesan + freshly cracked black pepper
Fresh: Whether it’s an herb or some fruit, fresh ingredients make a butter board look inviting. Try this: blueberries + lemon zest + goat cheese crumbles
Credit: Kellie Hynes
Credit: Kellie Hynes
Sign up for the AJC Food and Dining Newsletter
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.
About the Author
