Description
This simple and elegant Sage Butter Sauce recipe combines browned butter with fresh or dried sage to create a fragrant, nutty sauce perfect for drizzling over pasta, grilled meats, or fish. With only a few ingredients and ready in just 15 minutes, it elevates any dish with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 4 tbsp fresh sage leaves or 4 teaspoons dried sage
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
Instructions
- Clean and chop the sage leaves: Rinse the sage leaves under cold water. Remove the leaves from the stems, discarding the stems. Chop the sage leaves finely using a sharp knife to release their flavors.
- Melt the butter in a pan: Cut the butter into slices for even melting. Place the butter in a medium-sized frying pan over medium heat. Melt it slowly until it turns light brown and emits a nutty aroma, about 3-5 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning. Remove from heat once browned.
- Add the sage to the pan: Stir in the chopped sage leaves into the browned butter. Cook for 2 to 4 more minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly to infuse the butter with sage flavor while preventing burning.
- Season and serve: Remove the pan from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Optionally, stir in minced garlic for extra flavor. Serve the sage butter sauce immediately over pasta, grilled chicken, fish, or meats, adjusting seasoning as desired.
Notes
- Use fresh sage leaves if possible for the best flavor; dried sage works as a substitute but is less aromatic.
- Watch the butter carefully as it browns quickly and can burn if unattended.
- Add minced garlic at the end to prevent it from burning and to retain its pungency.
- This sauce pairs beautifully with gnocchi, ravioli, roasted vegetables, or pan-seared meats.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and proceed the same way.
