Noodles in Fairy Butter
Submitted by cell_Z
Noodles in fairy butter, a sweet historical pasta tossed in a rich sauce of hard-cooked egg yolks, butter, sugar, orange flower water, thyme, and basil.
YIELD
4 servingsPREP
10 minCOOK
0 minREADY
10 minFairy butter is a centuries-old English compound butter that blends hard-cooked egg yolks with sugar, butter, and orange flower water into a golden, fragrant paste. Tossing it with hot noodles creates something unexpected: a sweet, aromatic pasta that reads more like a Renaissance dessert course than anything modern.
The hard-cooked egg yolks are what give this sauce its distinctive texture. Beaten smooth with softened butter and sugar, they create a rich, creamy coating that clings to each strand without feeling heavy. Orange flower water adds a perfumed, floral note that ties the sweet and savory elements together.
Thyme and basil in a sweet butter sauce sounds unusual, but they work. The herbs add an earthy undertone that keeps the dish from tipping into straight dessert territory. Use a light hand when tossing. You want just enough fairy butter to coat the noodles golden, not drown them.
Chef Tips
- Hard-cook the egg yolks fully so they mash smooth. A soft or jammy yolk will leave the butter grainy.
- Beat the butter mixture until completely uniform with no visible yolk pieces. A food processor works faster than a bowl and whisk.
- Toss the fairy butter with noodles while they’re still hot. The heat melts the butter into a silky sauce. Cold noodles will leave you with clumps.
- Garnish with fresh orange slices just before serving for brightness and a pop of citrus.
Variations
- Swap orange flower water for rose water for a different floral direction.
- Use wide egg pasta like pappardelle for more surface area to catch the butter.
- Sprinkle with crushed pistachios on top for color and crunch.
Ingredients
Directions
Beat the egg yolks, sugar, butter, thyme, basil, and orange water in a small bowl until smooth.
Mix enough of the butter with the hot noodles to coat them with a golden-yellow color.
Garnish with orange slices.
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