Marjoram Shallot Butter Recipes

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH MARJORAM AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add nuts and stir until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer nuts to small bowl. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in same skillet over medium heat. Add sprouts; stir 1 minute. Add broth; cover and simmer until sprouts are almost tender, about 7 minutes. Uncover and simmer until broth evaporates, about 5 minutes. Using wooden spoon, push sprouts to sides of skillet. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in center of same skillet. Add shallots; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in marjoram, then cream. Simmer until sprouts are coated with cream, stirring frequently, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Stir over medium heat to rewarm.)
• Transfer brussels sprouts to serving platter. Mix in half of pine nuts. Sprinkle with remaining pine nuts.

MARJORAM SHALLOT BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the shallots and season with a pinch of salt.
• Sauté until soft, but do not brown.
• Add the vermouth, and simmer until the pan is almost dry.
• Set aside to cool completely.
• Place the butter in a medium mixing bowl and, with an electric mixer (fitted with the paddle) or wooden spoon, beat until light and fluffy.
• Scrape down the sides.
• Add the marjoram and pepper, and beat to incorporate, scraping down the sides.
• Add the cooled shallot mixture and beat to combine.
• Taste for salt and pepper.
• Scrape into a small bowl, serving crock or butter molds and cover tightly; or shape into a long roll in grease-proof paper (plastic, wax or parchment) for storing and slicing as needed.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH CARROT MARJORAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine carrot juice, 1/4 cup wine, lemon juice, shallot, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat just enough to maintain a steady boil. Cook until slightly thickened (it should resemble the consistency of pulpy orange juice) and reduced to about 1/2 cup, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Reduce heat, and very gently simmer the carrot reduction. Whisk in butter one piece at a time, waiting until each piece is melted and incorporated before adding another. The sauce should be thickened enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon. Return the sauce to a simmer, whisking constantly. Submerge the bundle of marjoram in the sauce, and remove from heat. Let marjoram infuse sauce while you cook the scallops.
• Heat oven to 175 degrees. Turn off the oven, and place a platter in it to warm. If the scallops have small, loosely attached, rectangular pieces of white muscle on their sides, pull them off, and discard. Pat the scallops dry with paper towels, and season all sides lightly with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed sauté pan over high heat until it is very hot and smoking. Using tongs, carefully place the scallops flat side down in the pan. Let the scallops cook undisturbed until they are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn, and cook until the other side is browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer scallops to warmed platter. Reduce heat to medium, and pour in remaining 1/4 cup wine. Scrape up browned bits, then add liquid to carrot mixture.
• Remove marjoram bundle from carrot sauce, squeeze it dry, and discard. Reheat sauce over medium heat, whisking constantly. Taste, and adjust seasoning. For a very smooth texture, pass sauce through a very fine strainer. If the sauce begins to separate or the butter comes to surface in droplets, blend the sauce for a few seconds using an immersion blender. Divide scallops among warmed dinner plates, and pour carrot sauce around them. Serve.

HERBY BREAD-AND-BUTTER STUFFING FOR TWO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a small, shallow gratin dish, casserole dish or loaf pan with a 3- to 4-cup capacity.
• In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in shallots and a large pinch of salt. Cook until soft and just starting to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in marjoram and cook for 1 minute longer.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup broth, egg, chopped herbs and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Fold in bread and shallots, letting the bread absorb the liquid. It should be very moist. (If the mixture seems dry, add more stock a little at a time, using up to another 1/4 cup.)
• Spoon stuffing into the prepared baking dish and grind some black pepper onto the top. Cut the remaining tablespoon butter into small pieces and scatter over the top. Bake until golden brown and firm, about 30 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

TOAST WITH TOMATO-BUTTER AND MARJORAM

Steps:

• Dice 2 tomatoes (you should have about 1 cup). Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add shallot and kosher salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until juices release and liquid reduces, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• Purée butter and tomato mixture in a blender or food processor until smooth. Stir in marjoram.
• Slice remaining 2 tomatoes. Spread each toast with tomato-butter, top with a tomato slice, and season with sea salt and pepper.
• Do Ahead
• Tomato-butter can be made and chilled for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

BAKED HAM WITH MUSTARD AND MARJORAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate)
• Line large roasting pan with double layer of foil. Trim any tough rind and fat from upper side of ham, leaving 1/4-inch-thick layer of fat. Using long sharp knife, score fat in 1-inch-wide diamond pattern. Place ham in prepared pan. Pour Madeira and 1 cup orange juice into bottom of pan. Bake ham until heated through, about 45 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven. Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Spread mustard mixture generously over top and sides of ham. Return to oven and continue to bake until mustard coating is golden brown, about 35 minutes.
• Transfer ham to platter. Skim fat from pan juices and discard. Pour pan juices into medium saucepan. Add marjoram and bring to boil. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Slice ham into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve with sauce.