Pesto Butter Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat a large cast-iron grill pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Cut the skirt steak into 4 even pieces, rub with half of the oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Cook, turning once, until charred on both sides and at the desired doneness, 6 to 10 minutes for medium-rare (depending on thickness).
• Meanwhile, whisk together the pesto, butter and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Trim the ends of the asparagus. Toss the asparagus with the remaining oil and a large pinch of salt and pepper. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board to rest for a few minutes. Working in batches if necessary, place the asparagus in a single layer on the grill pan and cook, turning once, until charred in spots and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
• Divide the steaks and asparagus among 4 plates; top each steak with a dollop of the pesto butter. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Measuring out and preparing all of the ingredients makes the process much smoother. Place basil in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Turn food processor and drizzle olive oil into mix in a steady stream through the open feed tube. Add half of the butter and half of the garlic, blending until smooth. Add the remaining butter and garlic and continue to blend. When the mixture is smooth again, add the pine nuts and Parmesan cheese continuing to blend until the results are smooth and buttery in texture. At this point, pour the pesto butter into plastic ice trays and freeze solid. Once they cubes are frozen solid, pop them out of the tray wrap, individually in saran, seal in vacuum bags and put back in the freezer. I usually save a small amount in the refrigerator (keeps several weeks) for more immediate use. Using the cubes in easy, make some fresh pasta and toss a few cubes 2 to 4 depending on the amount of pasta. Serve as soon as the cubes have melted. In an omelet or on a potato,thaw the cubes ahead of time till liquid but avoid using the microwave since it will cook the pesto butter.