Preparing Truffle Mushrooms: A Step-By-Step Guide

how to prepare truffle mushrooms

There are many ways to prepare truffle mushrooms, including truffle mushroom pasta, crostini, and sautéed mushrooms. Truffle mushroom pasta is an easy dish that can be made with a few simple ingredients. The sauce is made with truffle cheese, which is an affordable way to enjoy the flavor of truffles. Sautéed mushrooms are another option, and can be made by cooking mushrooms with butter, garlic, and truffle oil. Finally, truffle mushrooms can be used to make crostini, by spreading mascarpone cheese on toasted bread slices, adding mushrooms, and sprinkling truffle salt on top.

Characteristics Values
Type of dish Pasta, crostini, sautéed mushrooms
Ingredients Mushrooms, butter, truffle oil, truffle butter, truffle cheese, truffle salt, garlic, thyme, soy sauce, cream, parsley, lemon, olive oil, mascarpone cheese, eggs, beef/chicken/vegetable stock, bread
Preparation Clean and chop mushrooms, cook mushrooms in butter/oil, add other ingredients, emulsify sauce, garnish and serve
Cookware Heavy-bottomed pan, skillet, stand mixer
Time 20 minutes to a few hours
Cost Truffle products are expensive, but a little goes a long way

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Truffle butter

To make truffle butter, start by leaving the butter out to soften at room temperature. It is important to use good-quality butter with a high fat content, such as grass-fed butter. Once the butter is softened, use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment to mix the butter, salt, and chopped truffles or truffle peelings until thoroughly combined. You can also add truffle oil, chives, and other fresh herbs like parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, chervil, or rosemary. Mix at low speed for 1-2 minutes until incorporated.

For an extra fluffy, smooth, and shiny texture, add an ice cube to the mixture while whipping. Once the mixture is light and fluffy, transfer it to sheets of parchment and roll into logs. Refrigerate the butter for 2-3 days to infuse the aroma and allow the flavour to strengthen. The butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or frozen for up to 6 months.

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Truffle oil

When preparing truffle mushrooms, it is important to consider the type of mushrooms being used. Portobello and button mushrooms, for instance, are not ideal for sautéing as they contain too much water and have less flavour. Instead, cremini, shiitake, oyster, or wild mushrooms are recommended for their ability to develop a golden brown crust and flavour.

To prepare truffle mushrooms, the truffle oil is typically combined with butter and other ingredients, such as garlic, to create a flavourful sauce. This sauce is then added to the mushrooms, either during cooking or as a garnish after plating. In the case of truffle mushroom pasta, the sauce is made by melting butter in a skillet, adding garlic, and then stirring in the truffle oil. The mushrooms are cooked separately and combined with the sauce, along with ingredients like cream and cheese, to create a creamy and earthy dish.

When using truffle oil, it is important to bind it to another vessel, such as butter, to prevent it from separating from the sauce and leaving an oily texture. This process, known as emulsification, involves mixing the truffle oil and butter together at a low speed until fully incorporated. This truffle butter can be made ahead of time and used in various dishes, such as steak or pasta.

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Truffle cheese

Preparing truffle cheese at home is a simple process, but it requires planning ahead. The first step is to select a mild-flavoured, soft cheese, such as brie or camembert. Cut the cheese crosswise to create two wheels. Shave or slice enough fresh truffles to thinly cover the face of one cheese wheel. Assemble the truffle slices onto the soft side of one of the cheese wheels, ensuring the entire surface is covered. Top it with the other side of the cheese wheel, soft side down. Securely wrap the cheese in plastic and refrigerate for two to three days to allow the truffle flavour to infuse. Truffle cheese can be served with a fresh baguette or crackers and paired with sparkling wine or pinot noir.

Preparing truffle cheese sandwiches, or grilled cheese, involves spreading butter on one side of each bread slice and placing a slice of Gruyere on the unbuttered side. Truffles are then sliced or grated over the cheese slice, followed by a spoonful of Parmesan. The sandwich is completed with a slice of cheddar cheese, and if using truffle oil, a drizzle over the shredded cheese. The sandwich is grilled on a frying pan or BBQ flat-top grill over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and the cheese has melted.

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Truffle salt

To make truffle salt, you will need to start with the best-quality sea salt flakes you can find. Fresh black truffles can be found at trufferies in Australia and are also stocked at many retail stores. Alternatively, preserved truffles are much more economical and easier to find.

There are two simple methods for making truffle salt. The first is simply putting a small piece of truffle into a jar of salt and letting the flavour infuse. The other is to grate the truffle into the salt, which is preferable because you get the flavour, aroma, and little flecks of truffle in your meal. Finely grate the truffle into the flaked sea salt, then mix the truffle and salt together, ensuring the truffle is evenly distributed throughout the salt.

Next, spread the combined salt mix out on a silicone dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 38°C (100°F) overnight (or for 8 hours). Pour the finished salt into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and store it in a cool, dark place. It will keep for 2-3 months, although the pungency of the truffle will be reduced after this time.

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Truffle pasta

Preparing truffle pasta is an easy way to create a delicious, restaurant-quality meal in about 30 minutes. The key to a good truffle pasta is in the sauce, which can be made with truffle butter, truffle oil, or truffle cheese.

To start, you'll want to cook your pasta according to the package instructions. It's best to use a long pasta such as fettuccine, but any long pasta will work. Be sure to reserve a few tablespoons of the starchy pasta water before draining it once it's cooked.

For the sauce, you have a few options. One option is to make a creamy truffle cheese sauce. To do this, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, then add the mushrooms and garlic and stir to coat them in butter. Cook the mushrooms until they release their moisture and turn a deep brown colour. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and add more butter and cream. Once the cream is heated, add the shredded truffle cheese and stir to combine. You can also add some of the pasta water to thin out the sauce.

Another option for the sauce is to use truffle butter. To make truffle butter, place softened butter into a stand mixer and mix on low speed for about 1 minute. Add soy sauce and mix until incorporated, then slowly stream in truffle oil while mixing until all the oil is incorporated. To make the sauce, melt the truffle butter in a skillet and add the mushrooms, cooking until they release their moisture. You can also add some chopped thyme for extra flavour.

Finally, you can also make a truffle oil sauce. Melt butter and truffle oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add garlic and sauté. Add the mushrooms and sauté until they have cooked down. Remove from heat and spoon the mushrooms onto plates, then drizzle cream and more truffle oil over top. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, mint, and fresh parsley to serve.

Once you've made your sauce, simply add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat the pasta in the sauce. Serve the pasta garnished with fresh parsley and grated cheese. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions

Black truffles are cooked or used raw, while white truffles are always used raw. Black truffles have a stronger flavour, whereas white truffles are more subtle and fragrant.

You can use any variety of mushrooms. Other ingredients include butter, truffle oil, garlic, salt, pepper, mint, and fresh parsley.

Sautéing is a popular way to cook truffle mushrooms. To do this, melt butter and truffle oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add garlic and sauté, then add the mushrooms and sauté until they have cooked down.

Truffle mushrooms can be used in a variety of dishes, including pasta, crostini, and risotto.

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