It’s Plastic Free July so that means refusing single use plastics and thinking about the plastics you already have. I put my thinking cap on and realised that we buy spreadable butter on a semi regular basis. Each one neatly packaged in a silvery plastic box which is thrown into recycling once the butter was finished. I knew we could do better and we have. This spreadable butter recipe is ludicrously simple.
The tyranny of food miles
There’s no denying that Lurpak butter is delicious. All of those happy Danish cows, grazing on lush green pasture, smiling contentedly. As delicious as their creamy, salty butter is, those Danish cows live a long, long way from our shores. Their butter travels over 15 000 km to get to us. Aren’t there cows closer to home who can give us premium spreadable butter? Of course there are. And with that sharp realisation, the Danes were out of my kitchen and the Aussies were in!
Cut down on costs & single use plastics
If you make your own spreadable butter, you will be supporting local dairy farmers and can make a cost saving. A tub of Lurpak spreadable is approximately $5 for 250g. A tub of home made spreadable butter is approximately $4.10 using a mid priced Australian olive oil. The larger the quantity you make, the cheaper it will be. It’s also a chance to make your current tub of spreadable butter the last plastic butter tub you will buy.
Spreadable Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 200g good quality butter (salted or lightly salted)
- 80ml light flavoured olive oil (not extra virgin)
- 250g empty plastic tub
Method
- Chop the butter into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Allow the butter to soften to room temperature to make blending easier.
- When the butter has softened, put the olive oil into the butter and start mixing. You can use hand beaters however, I found a whisk or fork works just as well.
- If the butter is soft, it won’t take long to come together.
- The spreadable butter recipe is ready when the oil has been fully incorporated. Spoon the butter into a clean plastic tub and place in the fridge to firm up.
- That’s it! Your done. This spreadable butter recipe is delicious on home made bread or this Vegemite Scone Ring.
Makes 1 x 250g tub
Don’t be tempted to use an extra virgin or strong flavoured oil. It will overpower the taste of the butter. I speak from personal experience.
It’s so easy to make this spreadable butter recipe, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Mightily Impressed!
Thanks. The mind is constantly ticking over.
Great idea! I try not to use too much spreadable butter (baking is another story) but great idea.
Yes, I use a lot of butter in baking too! I know people keep their butter on the bench but that doesn’t fit our lifestyle or climate so this is a good compromise. As someone pointed out, at least we know what’s in the homemade version.
this sounds like a fabulous idea! and i have used that watercress creek olive oil before too. i must try making this butter myself. cheers S
Thanks. Honestly, sometimes I find making sourdough etc a drag but this is so easy that I don’t give it a 2nd thought.
I love this idea and I’m trying to be more plastic-use conscious. As soon as the spreadable butter is done in the fridge, I am going to do this! Thanks!
Excellent! Honestly, it’s a few moments work as as someone else pointed out, you will also know exactly what’s in it.
I don’t use spreadable butter but this has given me a great idea to make use of herbed butter for cooking in a way that is simpler 🙂
Glad to have been of inspiration Tandy.
Impressive! I must try to make some of this.
Thanks. I just made a double batch and we’ve moved totally away from any other spread now.