A truffle is a succulent plant, the fruiting bodied exterior of an ascomycete organism, mainly one of three species in the genus Tuber. Besides Tuber, several other genera of ascomycetes are also recognized as truffles including Peziza, Geopora, Choiromyces, Ptychoporus, and a host of others.
The most delicious and nutritious of all truffles is the edible version, a variety that grows on trees around Europe, but not in the United States. Black truffle is the most common form and is often considered to be the true truffle due to its dark purplish color.
The name truffle comes from the Greek word “trou” which means sweet or pleasant, and “fatos” which means fungus. In German, the word for truffle is “Kruggerit”, which means sweet fungus. Some people, though, consider the name to be too difficult to pronounce and are less willing to use it on their menus, preferring something less complicated, like trattes or pasta.
While the truffle may be found in all-natural food stores and grocery stores, it is usually sold in its more expensive form, as black truffle sea salt. It can sometimes be confused with truffles made from other edible mushrooms such as the more expensive shiitake mushroom, but the two are different.
Truffles are best eaten in their natural form, so it is best to buy a good quality truffle salt from your local supermarket or search online for your preferred brand. If you are using truffle salt as a garnish or dipping for pasta, it is advised to use it as little as possible.
Salt can also be used in cooking. For example, sauteing, stir-frying, grilling, or broiling. While the flavor can be lost when the salt is added during cooking, adding it a few minutes before you start your dish will restore the original flavor. Another popular way to add a little truffle salt is to salads by mixing a little in with your salad dressing and spreading it over your salad.
The classic way to prepare a truffle or black truffle, in particular, is to put them into a baking pan. While they are not a very expensive snack, you will save money by making your own. For a quick and easy truffle recipe try placing a small amount into a small glass of water and leaving to cool, then straining out the seeds.
After they have cooled, place them into a Ziploc bag and add a teaspoon of salt to each bag. When they are fully cooled, tie off the end of the bag and freeze for up to a week to store in the freezer.
To make your own truffles, mix about two teaspoons of salt into a cup of tea, and serve cold. Let the tea steep while the truffles are still warm. Then take the truffles out of the tea and serve. This is a delicious way to keep the flavors coming back into the drink.
Truffles can also be used in a number of other ways. Many recipes call for them as a garnish on a piece of fruit, such as an apple or blueberry. They can also be used in pies and cakes and candies.
If you are serving truffles for breakfast, spread some over an English muffin for a quick and easy snack, or use them in place of cream cheese in chocolate biscuits or chocolate truffles. Or, just scatter them over the tops of your favorite ice cream sandwiches.
Truffles also make a wonderful addition to soups, stews, and chili. Just sprinkle some truffles over a bowl of soup or chili before serving. They can also be sprinkled over a bowl of pasta or potato salad. For a more exotic twist, place a small bit on top of chicken or fish.
In general, the higher in fat, the higher the sugar content in the truffles. Therefore, it’s best to avoid the traditional recipes where you grind up the truffles and rub them onto a slice of bread or crackers. These tend to lose some of their flavors and may leave the taste of the original flavor behind.