Monday, March 23, 2009

TRUFFLE OIL

Truffle, that sounds like music to the ears! Who doesn't get all excited when hearing that delightful word full of promises? I'm pretty sure nobody!

So, today, I thought that I'd introduce you to a truffle-related goodie dear to my little heart: Truffle Oil. This fascinating gourmet product is incredibly aromatic and so versatile that it is impossible not to immediately fall in love with it...

Truffle oil is a high-quality olive oil that has been infused with the flavor of either white (alba truffle/tuber magnatum) or black (tuber melonasporum) truffles. It has an earthy, fragrant, sensual, savory, heady, odoriferous, nostril-filling, head-swelling, robust, nearly offensive and multifaceted flavor. I sometimes compare the aroma of truffles to the way the Devil's sulphuric breath might smell (reek?) after having eaten raw garlic. Heaven and hell in a bottle!

This lush oil gives a burst of flavor to any savory dish. But, as it has a strong concentrated aroma, it is recommended to use it sparingly. Therefore you should drizzle it over your food - no pouring here. It is best used with/on mashed potatoes, vegetables, mushrooms, eggs (scrambled preferably) , slices of fresh bread, meat (raw like a carpaccio), crostini, bruschette, risottos, frittatas, foccacia, pizzas, asparagus, pasta, fancy salads (for the vinaigrette), seafood (preferably scallops and white fish), thick soups (velouté), purees (beans, vegetable, etc...), shaved cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, Gruyère, Sbrinz, Brie, etc...), savory ice creams, dips and sauces.

Always, remember not to cook it, otherwise it'll lose all it's perfume and efficiency. Just sprinkle a few drops over a warm dish, once it has been served. Neither should you forget that bottled truffle oil does tend to lose it's characteristic aroma over time (as it is a truffle extract infusion), so store in the refrigerator and eat it as fast as possible (that should not be a problem, though!).

And be warned, as surprising as it might sound, most truffle oils are actually a chemical concoction. Much of the truffle oil found on the market today hasn’t actually been truffle infused or made with any actual truffle. Carefully read the label before buying your precious oil. If it reads "Truffle Essence" or "Truffle Aroma", or even "Summer Truffle" (a cousin of the black or white truffle/tuber aestivum) or "Grey Truffle" (found in America/tuber miesentericum), then there is no doubt that the aroma will be a 100% synthetic (see this video) or just not like the real thing.

Real Truffle oil is pure decadence. It is like an aphrodisiac; one whiff of that seductive and intoxicating smell will send you to heaven and will consume your soul like the fierest fires of hell!

57 comments:

  1. A very informative post Rosa! And beautiful photos too!

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  2. Truffle oil sure is divine (or devilish if you prefer)! Thanks for the heads up about the "fake" stuff.

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  3. Bonne semaine ...merci pour ce post

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  4. J'adore le parfum de l'huile de Truffe !

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  5. Un huile bien parfumée qui doit agrémenter admirablement les plats !
    Bisous, Doria

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  6. Merci pour ce billet qui va rendre service à bien des acheteurs d'huile à la truffe.

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  7. I love truffle oil - it is an absolutely essential ingredient in my kitchen!

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  8. Thanks so much for the tutorial on truffle oil. I have never tried it, but if I ever come across it - I will definitely study the label!

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  9. Nice post Rosa! I didnt know that truffle oil shouldnt be 'cooked'.

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  10. C'est vrai que parfois on peut être déçu. Je me souviens de l'huile que Mamina m'avait envoyée. J'ai beaucoup de mal à retrouver ce parfum de truffe en magasin.

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  11. Thanks for the very informative post. I've never tried it but I heard it costs a small fortune.

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  12. jamais gouté mais j'imagine que ça doit etre tres bon

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  13. We got a bottle for Christmas, I am saving it for something special. Great post!

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  14. Great information about synthetic flavorings! The real stuff is just amazing.

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  15. amazing writing, vivid descriptions. I could actually imagine the taste and aroma of it.
    I've only ever tried truffle butter, though.

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  16. Thanks for the link to that video. I've seen truffle oil in the Italian shop we buy our olive oil at and have often wondered about it. Now that I've read your description on how to use it ... maybe we'll pick some up next time we are down at the coast and give it a try.

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  17. Such a valuable information Rosa, thank you! Now I know a whole lot more about this precious oil.
    Xoxo,
    elra

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  18. I have never used truffle oil. Thank you for the info. Now I will know what to do with it.

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  19. Oh oui, une de mes huiles préférés! :)

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  20. Hey,j'en ai justement une dans mon placerd que je 'nai pas encore ouverte mais en te lisant,je me demande qu'est-ce que j'attends pour le faire!!!

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  21. If you were a sales rep for truffles you would have me sold!

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  22. I have seen this oil in the stores but am always too thrifty to purchase it. Your beautiful descriptions have just inspired me Rosa!

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  23. jamais goûté mais c'est tentant! elle doit avoir un bon petit goût, là je teste l'huile d'argan je pense que des recettes arriveront prochainement! bonne soirée :)

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  24. That is very interesting Rosa! I had better go and store my oil in the fridge pronto!

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  25. I have a little bottle in my fridge that I have been hoarding. I guess I better use it soon!

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  26. Yes, I'm shaking! I had some drizzled over french fries in DC. Talk about decadent! Mmmmmmm.

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  27. I've never seen truffle oil. Great post.

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  28. héhéhé (tu devrais écrire ;-P) merci Rosa, tu es une femme de coeur.

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  29. Voilà un joli produit! On n'a plus qu'une envie: en avoir une bouteille dans sa cuisine!
    Bises

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  30. schöne Zusammenfassung auf was man achten muss.

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  31. As far as I can remember, I've never tasted Truffle Oil. After reading your very interesting post I know I'll do it sometime soon...;)

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  32. j'adore cette huile juste mélange à une pomme de terre écrasé hummm c'est délicieux !! bise sandra

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  33. très subtil et délicieux

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  34. Sur une bonne viande pour un tartare un bon parmesan rapé unpeu d'huile à la truffe = le bonheur , non ??

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  35. Comme toi, depuis que j'ai goûté ce divin délice, j'en mettrais partout!

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  36. merci pour ce billet , il va me donner des idées pour mieux utiliser ce produit
    bises

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  37. Haa..They look quite decadent..grt one Rosa..:)

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  38. heaven and hell in a bottle... so perfectly put!

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  39. I love using truffle oil in my cauliflower soup...yum!

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  40. how fascinating and so glad to have found your site . . .
    happy twirls,
    Libby

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  41. gotta admit.. haven't used truffle oil before.. it's expensive, isn't it?

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  42. JESCEL: That's not a problem. Well, for a 3.5 oz bottle you pay about 17$... It's worth every cent, though!

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  43. thanks for the info. I love truffle, it is divine on pizza and pasta!

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  44. Love love love truffle oil! It really has the ability to transform even the plainest dishes!

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  45. Yes whenever I watch a cooking program, they mentioned truffle oil so this is it ;D

    Thank you, must be very very expensive.

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  46. Wow! I learned something today. Thanks! Excellent post. I like your description -- "Heaven and Hell in a bottle." ;-)

    I have to look for a bottle of real truffle oil now.

    Paz xoxo

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  47. I'm glad you warned people that most truffle oils on the market are made with chemicals, and not much -- if any -- real truffles. If you can find the real-deal truffle oil, it's worth the price. A little goes a long way, and it's just magical on potatoes or eggs or a silky cauliflower soup.

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  48. You are right! Hearing the world truffle makes me just weak in the knees!

    Lovely blog.

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  49. À la fameuse huile de truffe,elle est sur ma liste de produits à tester.Je pense que c'est le prix qui me rebute un peu mais j'ai vraiment envie d'y gôuter,,,
    J'ai hâte de voir comment tu va l'utiliser.
    Bonne journée!

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  50. Coucou Rosa,
    je ne comprends malheureusement pas bien ton billet mais je suis comme toi j'adore l'huile de truffe depuis que je l'ai découverte lors d'un atelier culinaire où on nous avait fait faire du céleri rémoulade dont la mayonnaise était faite en partie avec de l'huile de truffe, j'adore.
    Bisous.

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  51. Isn't that stuff wonderful? If it weren't so expensive I'd dab a little of it behind each ear everyday.
    Lovely photos Rosa, but that's par for the course.
    I have two bottles of truffle oil, and, after reading your warning, I just found out that one of them is (nooooo!) synthetic.
    I got taken to the cleaners.

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  52. MARYSOL: Thanks! It is wonderful indeed! I would have a bath with it, yet I doubt that I'd smell fine after that ;-P... I'm sorry to hear that. I also got ripped-off a few time :-(((, hence the warnings!!!

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  53. Thanks for such an informative post. I know/knew nothing about truffles other than they were expensive and rare. I'm very tempted to try it though I don't know that I cook anything that upscale that would benefit from the truffle oil. (Salad maybe?)
    ~ingrid

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  54. INGRID: You are welcome! You don't need to cook anything upscale ;-P... the simples combination is sufficient! Yes, salad, for example!

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  55. LOve it!! Can i know which brand the truffle oil you stated above is please? Ive been searching everywhere for these kind of pure real truffle oil and not those aroma stuff but failed. It would be a great pleasure if you could let me know.

    Thank you :)

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  56. ANNIE: Thank you for the kind note and for visiting my blog! Unfortunately, it was not really a brand, but an oil I had found in one of our supermarkets here in Switzerland (it is produced by them). Cheers.

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