When I first started following the MIND Diet, I was dismayed to see that it recommended limiting the amount of butter you eat. I love butter. I thought it would be really hard to cut back. Instead, I figured out how to use small amounts in ways that highlight butter’s irresistible flavor and texture. One of my favorite ways is compound butter, which is simply butter mixed with other ingredients. And do I have a flavor-packed compound butter for you here. Dill and Caper Butter features briny, brain-boosting capers, herby dill, sharp garlic, and zesty lemon. Just a dab’ll do ya, so you can stay within the MIND Diet recommendations but still enjoy some buttery goodness.

Not only are compound butters delicious, they are also easy to make and freeze well. Using a full stick of butter will make about two dozen one-teaspoon servings. The recipe below includes instructions for freezing the leftovers for easy dinners in the future.

You can use Dill and Caper Butter for almost any savory application. Just place a pat on top of your desired food when it is done cooking and allow the butter to melt. I especially love salmon topped with Dill and Caper Butter. It would also be delicious on white fish (such as cod), tossed with shrimp, stirred into cannellini beans, or placed atop chicken breast.

Brain-health benefits of capers

Did you know that capers are actually berries? It’s true: capers are considered savory berries. Like all berries, they are rich in brain-healthy flavonoids, which are beneficial plant compounds. In fact, various studies have shown caper extract to be neuroprotective, likely due to its high flavonoid content.

To take advantage of their brain-boosting abilities, I like to add savory berries to my food whenever possible. In addition to capers, other savory berries include allspice, pink peppercorns, and sumac (a component of za’atar).

So do Future You a favor: whip up a batch of Dill and Caper Butter, stock your freezer, set yourself up for some easy dinners, and get some brain-boosting flavonoids while you’re at it. Let me know what you want to try with Dill and Caper Butter in the comments, or let me know your favorite compound butter. I’ll be featuring more combinations in future posts, so stay tuned!

Dill and Caper Butter

Useful for almost any savory application, Dill and Caper Butter features briny, brain-boosting capers, herby dill, sharp garlic, and zesty lemon.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 24

Ingredients

  

• 8 tablespoons butter softened and cut into squares
• 2 tablespoons capers chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
• ½ lemon zested
• 1 clove garlic minced, pressed, or grated

Instructions

 

• Place all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix until well blended.
• Scoop into 1 teaspoon portions, serving as desired.
• To freeze: Place 1 teaspoon portions on a small baking sheet or plate. Place in freezer and freeze for 2 hours or overnight. Remove portions from sheet and place in freezer-safe zip bag. Return to freezer.
• To serve from frozen: Remove desired portions from freezer and allow to thaw at room temperature for 1 hour. Serve as desired.

Keyword Blueberries, Brain health, Capers, Dill, Freezer cooking, Garlic, Herbs, Make-ahead, MIND Diet