One of the best parts of Benihana's recipes is the classic umami-packed garlic butter. This copycat recipe for Benihana's garlic butter is easy to make and is the perfect base for hibachi steak, Benihana-style chicken, hibachi fried rice, or even Benihana's hibachi vegetables. You'll want to keep a batch on hand at all times!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Great make-ahead: This garlic butter recipe can be prepared days in advance. This means you can batch-make the Benihana butter, and use it as needed throughout the week.
Packed with umami: Benihana's garlic butter is one of the secrets and keys to their savory, umami-packed dishes. The soy and garlic make a flavor bomb!
Good use for garlic: This compound butter is perfect if you have excess peeled garlic in your fridge. The more garlic, the better!
Ingredient Notes
- Unsalted butter: Unsalted butter is best for this recipe. Soy sauce has a lot of salt in it already, so the added salt in the butter is not needed.
- Fresh garlic: Garlic is one of the key ingredients in this recipe. Fresh is generally best since it has the most flavor. Preminced garlic generally has a different taste, which may change the flavor profile of the butter.
- Fresh lemon: Just like garlic, fresh lemon adds brightness and acidity to the butter. Bottled lemon juice is overwhelmingly sour and one-noted.
A full list of ingredients with measurements is located on the recipe card, below.
Substitutions
- Unsalted butter: You can use a butter-margarine mix, or all margarine if you want a smoother "whipped" texture. Salted butter will also work, but adjust the soy sauce to taste.
- Fresh garlic: Garlic powder is a suitable substitute. You will want to use a couple of teaspoons of garlic powder to get a noticeable flavor.
- Fresh lemon: Bottled lemon juice is fine to use in a pinch.
Variations
- Roasted garlic: Many recipes for Benihana's garlic butter call for roasted garlic instead of raw. If you prefer a sweeter, mellow flavor, roasted garlic is a great option!
- Herbs: Add fresh herbs like chopped parsley or scallions to the butter for an extra layer of flavor.
- Teriyaki: Use teriyaki sauce instead of soy sauce for sweet and salty butter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep Work Before Cooking
Collecting all ingredients: This will make cooking so much easier. Gather all the spices you will need, and keep them nearby.
Soften butter: Remove the butter from the fridge approximately 30-45 minutes before using it.
Blend Garlic & Soy
Add garlic cloves, lemon juice, and soy sauce to an immersion blender jar.
Make Garlic Soy Mix
Blend the soy, lemon, and garlic mixture with an immersion blender, until there are almost no large chunks of garlic.
Finish the Butter
Add the softened butter to the blended soy & garlic mixture. Combine the butter into the soy sauce using the immersion blender.
Expert Tips
Use a food processor: If you do not have an immersion blender, you can use a food processor to mix the butter and soy sauce mixture.
Softened butter is key: You need very soft butter to make this recipe. If your butter is not completely softened, the liquids will not fully mix into the butter.
Soften butter quickly: If you forget to take your butter out of the fridge ahead of time, microwave the unwrapped butter stick in a microwave-safe bowl in 5-second increments until it is soft to the touch.
Make Ahead & Storage
- This soy, garlic butter is a fantastic make-ahead recipe.
- Transfer prepared or any leftover butter to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Use this butter cold or at room temperature.
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Benihana Copycat Garlic Butter (Homemade)
Equipment
- Food processor - optional
Ingredients
- ½ cup Unsalted butter - 1 stick, softened
- 10 cloves Garlic
- ¼ cup Soy sauce
- ½ Lemon - juiced
Instructions
- Add garlic cloves, lemon juice, and soy sauce to an immersion blender jar.10 cloves Garlic, ¼ cup Soy sauce, ½ Lemon
- Blend the soy, lemon, and garlic mixture with an immersion blender, until there are almost no large chunks of garlic.
- Add the softened butter to the blended soy & garlic mixture. Combine the butter into the soy sauce using the immersion blender.½ cup Unsalted butter
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