Recipe: Kenya masala butter

Total time: About 20 minutes

Servings: Makes a little more than one-half cup compound butter

Note: Adapted from “My Bombay Kitchen” by Niloufer Ichaporia King. This compound butter is recommended with grilled corn on the cob or roasted or boiled potatoes, as well as grilled fish, chicken or shrimp. To give the butter a smoky taste, you can substitute one of the chiles in the recipe with a chipotle chile. Lime wedges can be served as an accompaniment.

2 to 3 small dried red chiles

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

Salt to taste

1. Place the dried chiles in a small saucepan and fill with enough water to just cover the chiles. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the chiles to soak until thoroughly softened. Drain the water and coarsely chop the chiles.

2. Place the butter in a medium bowl and whisk until it is light and creamy.

3. Bruise the cumin seeds using a mortar and pestle. Whisk them into the butter. Using the mortar and pestle or a food processor, purée the garlic and add it to the butter. Purée the chiles the same way and add them to the butter to taste. Season to taste with salt. The butter can be served right away or refrigerated up to a week.

Each tablespoon: 107 calories; 0 protein; 1 gram carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 12 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 30 mg. cholesterol; 2 mg. sodium.