anchovy butter
- noun
- /ˈænʧoʊvi ˈbʌtər/
:
mantequilla de anchoveta
- Chefs often use anchovy butter to add a savory, umami flavor to vegetables and fish.
Examples
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I love spreading anchovy butter on my toast.
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He spread a generous layer of anchovy butter on his toast before serving the soup.
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The recipe calls for topping the grilled steak with a slice of anchovy butter.
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Have you tried anchovy butter with crackers?
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You can enhance the flavor of your toast by spreading it with anchovy butter.
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The chef recommended trying anchovy butter on grilled vegetables for a savory twist.
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For a delicious appetizer, serve crackers topped with anchovy butter and sliced cucumbers.
Synonyms
1
3.4
A strong, salty paste made from anchovies that adds flavor to sauces and dishes
1
2.8
A salty, savory sauce made by mixing mashed anchovies into a cream sauce
How Fishy
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'butter blended with mashed anchovies' is directly compositional from 'anchovy' + 'butter' as a food-flavoring compound (like 'garlic butter' or 'lemon butter'). This noun-noun modification pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the meaning.
Etymology
Anchovy butter is exactly what it says: softened butter mixed with mashed anchovies, so the little salty fish melt into the fat. This image of the fish 'hidden' in the butter explains why the spread gives a rich, 'savory' boost to vegetables, meat, or bread.