Using Whole Truffles
Purchase a truffle shaver for preparing fresh truffles. Look for a wooden or metal truffle shaver at your local gourmet food supply store or online. Hold the shaver with one hand and gently rub the whole truffle over the blade. The shavings will fall onto your cutting board or food. You'll see a small knob on the side that adjusts the blade so you can make thin or thick slivers of truffle.
Shave truffle over creamy pasta. Truffles go really well with rich, creamy flavors and pasta is no exception. Make your favorite buttery pasta and shave a few slices of black or white truffle over the dish just before you serve it. For example, try shaved truffles over Florentine pasta, fettuccine alfredo, or macaroni and cheese.
Top your favorite risotto with truffle shavings. If you'd like an even more impressive meal, cook risotto with parmesan or mushrooms. Then, scatter shaved truffles over the top before serving.Variation: Try shaved truffles on top of cooked polenta instead of risotto. You can flavor the polenta with mushroom, vegetable, or chicken stock. You could also add sautéed leeks, shallots, or onion to the risotto for a deeper flavor.
Sauté shaved truffle to make scrambled eggs or omelets. Although you usually want to shave truffle directly over already cooked food, you can sauté it in butter for a few minutes. Then, add beaten eggs to the skillet and make scrambled eggs or an omelet. You could also make frittatas, strata, or quiche and then scatter shaved truffles scattered over the top just before serving.
Scatter shaved truffle over pizza. Since truffle pair well with mushrooms and cheese, it's a great idea to shave a little truffle over your next pizza. Try it over pizza that has a garlic and oil or cream sauce base instead of a marinara base. You could also top the pizza with prosciutto, broccoli, or fresh basil.
Tuck slices of truffle into chicken before roasting it. To make an extra special roasted chicken, thinly slice 3 or 4 pieces of truffle and loosen the skin from the bird. Slide the truffle between the skin and the meat and roast the chicken as usual. The truffle will flavor the chicken and pan juices as it cooks. You could also shave truffle over steaks or roasts just before serving.
Create creamy truffle fondue. If you'd like a fun but elegant meal, heat 1 cup (240 ml) of whole milk with ⁄2 pound (230 g) of diced fontina cheese in a double boiler. Whisk until the cheese is melted and then add 3 large egg yolks, 1 at a time. Then, top the fondue with shaved truffle. You could dip: Baguette or crostini Crudités Boiled potatoes Cornichons
Adding Truffle Oil to Your Dishes
Toss 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of truffle oil with ⁄4 pound (340 g) of pasta. If you're making pasta with a creamy sauce, stir the truffle oil in before you combine the sauce with the pasta. For example, make linguine or fettuccine alfredo with truffle oil.How to make your own truffle oil: Combine 1 teaspoon (5 g) of shaved fresh truffle with 1 cup (240 ml) of extra-virgin olive oil in a sealable jar. Shake the jar every day and let it infuse for at least 1 week before you use it. Once you open the jar, store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Stick with butter or cream-based sauces instead of marinara since the bold tomato flavor will compete with the truffle oil.
Drizzle about ⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of truffle oil over roasted vegetables. White or black truffle oil will add an extra rich flavor to your favorite roasted veggies. Try tossing the oil with any of these roasted vegetables just before serving: Asparagus Potatoes Parsnips Carrots Turnips Broccoli
Create elegant appetizers with truffle oil. For a fun snack, toss popcorn with a few drops of truffle oil, salt, and pepper. You could also make a creamy dip for crostini, by blending 1 1/3 cups (300 g) of soft cream cheese with 2/3 cup (150 g) of sour cream, and 2 to 3 drops of truffle oil. You can taste the dip and add chives, salt, and pepper. Try sprinkling a little truffle oil over canapés, such as mini-quiche, or puff pastry bites.
Add ⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of truffle oil for every 1 pound (450 g) of potatoes. The buttery flavor of potatoes absorbs the truffle oil really well. Toss white or black truffle oil with creamy mashed potatoes, french fries, or oven-roasted potato wedges. Truffle oil also works well with scalloped potatoes or gratins.
Stir a few drops of truffle oil into soup. It's no surprise that truffle oil pairs well with cream of mushroom soup, but it's fantastic in French onion soup. You could also add truffle oil to pureed soups made with roasted vegetables. Try white bean and cauliflower soup with truffle oil, for instance. Experiment by adding truffle oil to chowder too!
Add truffle oil to eggs. The rich flavor of the egg yolks combines well with the truffle oil. To enjoy the flavor, mix a little truffle oil into scrambled eggs, deviled eggs, omelets, or quiche. If you prefer poached or softly fried eggs, sprinkle a few drops over them just before serving.
Drizzle truffle oil over foccacia or crusty bread. Prepare your favorite foccacia and pour 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of truffle oil over the top before you bake it. Once it comes out of the oven, drizzle another 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of truffle oil over it and serve the bread while it's warm. If you'd rather dip the bread into olive oil, add 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of truffle oil to ⁄2 cup (120 ml) of extra-virgin olive oil in a shallow dish. Then, sprinkle a little salt or pepper over it.
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