Michael Davis
Mushroom truffle sauce is a decadent and creamy sauce that is perfect for elevating a simple dish. It is made with mushrooms, butter, cream, and truffle, and can be served with pasta, steak, or even as a dipping sauce. The truffle adds an earthy, funky flavour to the sauce, and while truffles can be wildly expensive, truffle cheese or truffle butter are more affordable alternatives that can be used to add depth to the sauce. The sauce is easy to make and can be served with a variety of dishes, making it a great option for a fancy dinner without the fuss.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Mushrooms, butter, cream, truffle cheese, truffle oil, truffle butter, truffle paste, garlic, shallots, thyme, salt, pepper, parsley, Parmesan cheese, pasta, bread |
| Preparation | Mushrooms sautéed in butter, garlic, and truffle butter; sauce made by combining cream, butter, truffle cheese, and truffle oil; served with pasta or bread |
| Taste | Earthy, savory, creamy, meaty, rich |
| Cooking Time | Approximately 30 minutes |
| Pairings | Steak, pasta, bread, eggs, salad |
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Truffle mushroom pasta
Ingredients
- Pasta of your choice
- Mushrooms
- Butter
- Cream
- Truffle cheese
- Parsley
- Salt and pepper
- Sherry vinegar
- Starchy pasta water
Optional Ingredients
- Shallots
- Garlic
- White wine
- Dijon mustard
- Truffle puree
- Parmesan cheese
- Chives
- Lemon
- Truffle oil
Method
- Boil pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve a few tablespoons of the starchy water before draining the pasta once it's cooked.
- In a large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and let them brown for 3-4 minutes without moving them. Flip them and continue cooking until they're browned all over.
- Add in the minced shallot and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until softened.
- Deglaze with white wine and simmer until it evaporates.
- Stir in the pasta water, cream, dijon, and truffle puree. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Season with salt and pepper, and a dash of sherry vinegar.
- Garnish with freshly grated parmesan, minced chives or parsley, and a drizzle of truffle oil.
Tips
- If you can't find truffle cheese, you can use regular parmesan and add a drizzle of truffle oil to the sauce.
- To enhance the flavour of the sauce, use summer truffles and shave them just before using, as a finishing element.
- Don't season the mushrooms with salt upfront as it will release water and affect the browning process.
- For a thinner sauce, use less cheese or substitute half-and-half or butter for the cream.
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Truffle butter
The process of making truffle butter involves incorporating shaved truffles into butter, resulting in a spreadable or meltable product that can be used in various culinary applications. The truffles lend their unique aroma and flavour to the butter, creating a decadent and indulgent ingredient.
One popular use of truffle butter is in pasta dishes. It can be melted and combined with cream and cheese to create a rich and creamy sauce that coats the pasta. The addition of truffle butter elevates the dish, adding a gourmet touch to a simple meal.
While truffle butter is a culinary delight, it has also gained attention for its slang usage, popularised by rapper Nicki Minaj's 2014 song "Truffle Butter." In the song, truffle butter is referenced as a metaphor for luxury and extravagance. However, it has also taken on a separate slang meaning that is sexual in nature.
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Truffle oil
The production of truffle oil varies, with some oils containing actual truffles while others use synthetic flavour compounds like 2,4-dithiapentane, which can legally be labelled as "truffle aroma" or "truffle flavour". The use of synthetic compounds has made truffle oil controversial, as it may lack the complex flavours and aromas of fresh truffles. Despite this, truffle oil has seen a growth in the market and an increase in availability, with celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay expressing appreciation for natural truffle oil.
One popular variety of truffle oil is black truffle oil, which features the aromatic Black Winter Truffle infused into olive oil. This variety captures the earthy notes of damp forests and dried mushrooms characteristic of the French Périgord Truffle. Black truffle oil is often used as a finishing drizzle, enhancing dishes with just a dash or two. It is also gluten-free and vegan, making it accessible to various dietary preferences and restrictions.
In addition to its culinary uses, truffle oil has been employed in Italy since at least 1756 to train truffle-hunting dogs and pigs. A ball of rags scented with truffle oil, known as a "strufion," is used to simulate the experience of searching for truffles underground. This demonstrates the potency of truffle oil's aroma, even in artificial forms.
While truffle oil has its supporters, it has also received mixed reviews from chefs and critics. Some, like Martha Stewart and Joe Bastianich, express strong dislike for truffle oil, considering it unnatural and detrimental to the dining experience. However, others, like Gordon Ramsay, view natural truffle oil as a desirable ingredient. Ultimately, the appeal of truffle oil lies in its accessibility, affordability, and ability to evoke the essence of truffles, even if it may not capture their full complexity.
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Truffle cheese
There are many different types of truffle cheeses available, including Parrano truffle cheese, which is similar to Parmesan and can be used in pasta dishes like fettuccine Alfredo. Other varieties include Boursin soft cheese truffle, which can be enjoyed on crackers or as a topping for burgers, and Murray's Cheese offers a selection of truffle-studded cheeses such as gouda, pecorino, and goat cheese.
When cooking with truffle cheese, it pairs well with meaty mushrooms and can be used to make a creamy sauce for pasta. The sauce is made by melting butter, adding cream, and then stirring in the shredded truffle cheese until melted. The starchy pasta water can be added to thin the sauce, and it is garnished with fresh parsley and additional grated cheese.
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Truffle paste
One example of truffle paste is the La Rustichella Black Truffle Pate, crafted with black truffles, porcini mushrooms, olive oil, and salt. This paste is versatile, adding elegance to pasta, risotto, or enhancing grilled meats. The black truffle variety is known for its robust flavour, with intense aromas that elevate the taste of grilled meats, seafood, and hearty stews.
The quality of truffle paste heavily depends on the type of truffles used. Summer truffles, for instance, are known for their subtle flavour and rough skin, created by the surrounding stones underground. Their outer surface is black, while the flesh is a pale grey with white marbling. To maximise their flavour, summer truffles should be shaved just before using and paired with ingredients like cheese, eggs, or simple pasta dishes.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom truffle sauce is made of mushrooms, truffle oil, butter, cream, and cheese. Some recipes also include garlic, shallots, thyme, and soy sauce.
Mushroom truffle sauce has an earthy, savory, and creamy taste. The truffle oil and truffle butter add an earthy flavor, while the cheese and cream add a savory and creamy element.
Mushroom truffle sauce is commonly served with pasta, bread, or meat dishes. It can also be used as a dipping sauce or spread on crostini.
