The black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vitt.) is one of the most demanded delicacies in gourmet gastronomy thanks to the incredible flavour and aroma it brings to all kinds of recipes. If you have tried this mushroom, which has the peculiarity of growing underground, we have no doubt that you will already know that its incredible flavour is unique and, although it may bring to mind other delicacies, such as, for example, some nuts, in reality there is nothing similar.
That is to say, it is a unique food that has no comparison, so if you have not yet had the opportunity to try it, we recommend you do so to discover a world of flavours that you do not yet know and that you will undoubtedly love. For this reason, in this article we are going to explain how you can cook with black truffle and we are going to show you some of the most delicious recipes that exist so that you can prepare exquisite dishes and some tips on how to do it in the best possible way.
Tips for cooking with black truffle
The black truffle is a fungus that grows under the ground, in symbiosis with the roots of some tree species. It can be cultivated in certain regions with a Mediterranean climate, with moderate rainfall and mild winters and on land that does not usually retain rainwater due to its steep slope. Its growth is very specific and so is its preparation in different recipes.
In this sense, it is important to know that the black truffle should be consumed within a maximum of fifteen days after its harvesting. It should not be frozen, as it loses its freshness, which directly affects its flavour, texture and aroma. Therefore, it is advisable to consume it as fresh and natural as possible in order to maintain its properties.
It is a fungus that, as we have mentioned, provides an intense flavour and aroma, so it is possible to add it in small quantities to dishes. This is ideal, since, with very little quantity, it is possible to cook with black truffles for a large number of dishes at the same time, which makes its use feasible in restaurants and gourmet caterings, due to the fact that its cost is also quite high.
The black truffle, moreover, must be harvested during the season from November to mid-March or early April, so it must be consumed at this time to enjoy its freshness to the fullest. For this reason, it is necessary to know that, when this mushroom is at its best, it has a certain degree of hardness. For this reason, it is best to grate it, slice it or cut it into small cubes. It combines very well with all kinds of dishes, such as fish and seafood, different types of meat, stews, pasta, pizzas, salads, potatoes and, especially, with eggs.
Recipes with black truffle
Now that you know that the best way to consume black truffle is by cutting this fungus into cubes, slices or grating it and adding small amounts to dishes to give them a unique flavour and aroma, we are going to show you some recipes with natural black truffle. We are sure you will enjoy each of the dishes, which you can prepare in the comfort of your home to enjoy the flavour of this gourmet fungus widely used in haute cuisine.
Truffled broken eggs
As we have already mentioned, the egg is perhaps the food that provides the most exquisite pairing with the black truffle. To prepare this delicacy you only need to use a few common ingredients, such as 600 grams of potatoes, for example. 5 eggs, salt, 100 ml. of olive oil, between 80 and 100 gr. of ham and black truffles from Sarrión (Tuber melanosporum Vitt.).
To prepare it, heat the oil in a frying pan and add the potatoes, which you should have previously cut into slices. Once they are golden brown, add the eggs and beat them with a paddle until you obtain a kind of scrambled egg. When you have it, all you have to do is put the scrambled eggs on a plate or in an earthenware dish.
Then add the pieces of ham on top and, finally, the sliced or grated black truffle, according to your preference. Undoubtedly one of the simplest and tastiest ways of cooking with truffle that will conquer your palate.
Chickpeas with truffle
The recipe for chickpeas with truffle is another of the easiest ways to cook with truffle. As for the ingredients, you need 250 g of chickpeas, 1 medium sweet onion, 250 g of mushrooms, meat or vegetable stock, olive oil and, finally, black truffle to grate or slice.
To make this delicacy, the first thing to do is to soak the chickpeas in water and salt overnight. However, if you want, you can skip this step and use canned chickpeas. However, in this case, the result will not be as tasty.
Once the chickpeas are ready, peel and chop the onion and sauté it in a pot with olive oil. When you see that the onion is done, add the 250 gr. of mushrooms and let them cook for a few minutes. At this point, add the grated or sliced black truffle to give it more flavour and aroma.
Then add the chickpeas, salt and meat or vegetable stock. It is best to leave the chickpeas to cook for an hour and a half or until you see that they have softened. This is the moment to serve, so you will have learnt how to prepare another truffle recipe.
Pizza with truffle
As with other types of dishes, there are different truffle pizza recipes that you can make at home, with different toppings. We have taken one of them, but you can try other recipes or experiment by adding other ingredients that you consider more appropriate according to your palate.
The main ingredients for the dough are 400 g of flour, 200 ml of water, a dash of extra virgin olive oil, 20 g of fresh yeast and salt. For the top, all you need is 250 g of fresh mozzarella cheese, 100 g of Parmesan and 20 g of black truffle, plus a few rocket leaves for decoration and flavouring.
To cook truffle pizza, simply mix the olive oil with the water in a bowl and add the fresh yeast and salt. From here, you can add the flour little by little until you obtain a slightly moist dough. At this point, you can spread it out on a baking tray until you have a smooth, thin surface on which to put the rest of the ingredients on top.
Once you have added the two types of cheese, bake it in the oven at 200ºC for 10 minutes or until you see that the cheese has melted. As soon as you take it out of the oven and while it is still very hot, it is time to add the grated truffle and decorate the central part with some rocket.
Risotto with truffle
Risotto is another recipe with natural black truffles, although it is not as simple to cook with truffles as the recipes we have seen so far. To make this dish, which is a little more complex to prepare, you need 200 g of mixed mushrooms, 1 litre of vegetable or chicken stock, 250 g of rice, 30 g of grated Parmesan cheese, 20 g of butter or margarine, 30 g of black truffle, half a glass of white wine, 1 medium-sized onion, 1 clove of garlic, a little extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt.
As for the preparation process, to cook this dish you need to use a low saucepan to cook the garlic and onion in oil until you see that they have a certain colour. Then, it is time to add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Then, in another pot, you need to heat the vegetable stock, add the 250 gr. of rice to the other pot. When the stock is hot, add it to cover the rice and the rest of the ingredients. Add it little by little, over a low heat and stir constantly.
When you reach this point, leave it to boil for between 15 and 20 minutes or until you see that the mixture has reached a certain thickness. At this point, add the butter, the Parmesan cheese and, finally, the grated truffle. If you wish, you can slice a little truffle to decorate on top. It will give it an exquisite gourmet presentation.
Potato omelette with truffle
Potato omelette can become a gourmet dish thanks to recipes with natural black truffle. If it is already a dish that, although simple, is exquisite and liked by practically everyone, if we decide to cook it with truffle, we have access to a new way of tasting this delicacy, rising to gourmet quality, like a haute cuisine dish.
This recipe requires very few ingredients, including 3 eggs, 2 potatoes, a dash of extra virgin olive oil, salt and, of course, 20 grams of fresh black truffle. The key to achieving an incredible flavour and aroma lies in the fact that the eggs have been truffled beforehand. To do this, a few days beforehand, put the eggs in a container with a truffle. In this way, they will take on its aroma and flavour.
Once they are ready, two or three days later, you should make the potato omelette as usual. To do this, use a frying pan with oil to fry the potatoes and mix them with the beaten eggs. To the egg mixture, you can add a little grated truffle and then make the omelette by heating the egg and the sliced potatoes in the frying pan. To finish, you can grate a little more truffle on top of the omelette to increase its aroma.
Spaghetti with truffle
Another of the best ways to cook with truffles is thanks to this recipe for spaghetti with this gourmet mushroom. It is a traditional Italian dish with an exquisite taste that never leaves anyone indifferent. Among the main ingredients, we need 350 gr. of pasta, 250 gr. of crème fraîche, 50 gr. of Parmesan cheese, black pepper, salt and 20 gr. of fresh black truffle.
To make this gourmet recipe, all you need to do is put water in a pot and bring it to the boil. When you see that the water is boiling, add the pasta and let it cook for a few minutes, until you see that it has softened enough to your liking. While it is cooking, make the truffle and Parmesan sauce.
To do this, grate both ingredients into a bowl and add the crème fraîche along with the black pepper and salt. The next step is to drain the pasta, pour the sauce over it and stir before serving. You can use slices of black truffle to garnish with a leaf of green shoots, such as rocket or parsley. This way, you will have an exquisite dish that you will undoubtedly want to repeat many times.
