Parmesan Butter Dipping Sauce Recipe for Artichokes, Pastas, Fish, and More
For me, a good meal has always been about family and friends—everyone getting together, enjoying each other’s company, and some really nourishing food. When I was growing up, my family got together every Sunday at the very least—once you start to factor in holidays and special occasions, you can only guess how much time we spent together! I remember everybody sitting around the dinner table, talking—aunts, uncles, cousins, friends—there were usually at least 15 people, even on a slow day. Whether it was just cake and coffee or if the family matriarchs were making a full-on Sunday pasta dinner, it was all about getting together, catching up, and seeing how everybody was doing.
I love making new memories just like these with my own family and friends, and my family absolutely adores parmesan cheese! We’ve always got some on hand. Of course, we always have butter, too, which makes this simple parmesan butter sauce recipe easy, even in a pinch. You can drizzle this cheesy sauce on top of fish, pasta, toasted bread, or my favorite: My Italian Stuffed Artichokes Recipe with Cheri Oteri.
Yep, Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese is Better
I highly recommend investing in a high-quality block of authentic Parmesan cheese. Trust me—the flavor is soooo much better. I love taking that extra moment to grate my own Parmesan cheese from the wedge, and it’s a treat for my guests, too. Grating by hand provides a much richer flavor than purchased, pre-grated Parmesan. Fresh cheese takes center stage in this recipe, with a pinch of fresh lemon zest to complement the rich flavors of butter and garlic.
Kitchen Inspiration: How to Use Leftover Parmesan Cheese
Really good cheese is well worth the investment, and it can be used for all kinds of delicious meals your whole family will love. A wedge of Parmesan can also be used to make Parmesan curls: Just shave the cheese off the wedge using a vegetable peeler. Here are some more recipe ideas that include Parmesan cheese. Don’t let that Parmesan rind go to waste, either! Try my St. Joseph’s Day Soup Recipe with Crispy Homemade Olive Oil Croutons if you have Parmesan rind left once you’re done cooking.
Appetizers and sides with fresh Parmesan cheese:
Salads with fresh Parmesan cheese:
Entrees and pasta dishes with fresh Parmesan cheese:
Parmesan Butter Dipping Sauce Recipe for Artichokes, Pastas, Fish, and More
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup finely grated fresh Parmesan
- A pinch of fresh lemon zest
- 1 small garlic cloves, very finely minced
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter.
- Remove from the heat and whisk in the remaining ingredients with a small whisk or a fork.
- Transfer to a serving dish. Serve warm.