Truffles

Truffle refers to members of the genera Tuber and Terfezia, They are warty and have an irregular shape; truffles can range from the size of a walnut to the size of a baseball, truffle season is between September and May. Truffles are found in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. Truffles are fungi that grow underground in close proximity to trees, once found, they can be harvested from the same location for several years. Pigs and specially trained dogs seek out the truffles by there odor and dig them up. Pigs were the original truffle hunters; truffles give off an odor that is very closely related to the male pig sex pheromone. Dogs are now the animal of choice because they don’t eat the truffles that they find unlike the pig. Truffles have been used since the times of the Greeks and Romans for food, medicine and aphrodisiacs; they are one of the most expensive ingredients costing up to $450 per pound

Truffles are more commonly found in Europe and Italy than America although Oregon is becoming an important industry while still in its youth. In Europe, less truffles are being harvested than in the past. The Périgord region in Southwest France is famous for the black truffle commonly used in pâté de foie gras; the black truffle is not as complex or odiferous as its cousin the white truffle. The black truffle smells of nuts, musk and ozone. The white truffle, found predominately in the piedmont region of Italy has a very strong odor which can fill a room quickly.

To clean truffles, brush off any soil, and wash, since truffles are most commonly eaten raw and unpeeled, they must be impeccably clean. Eating truffles raw allow you to get the maximum flavor, when used in soups or sauces; they need to be added at the very end of cooking to preserve the taste. Truffle slicers are handy because they allow you to make paper thin slices, this way, you get the most flavor with the least amount of waste. Truffles are usually shaved on top of salads and other dishes; they are also great to slip under the skin of poultry so that the delicious flavor is absorbed into the flesh of the bird. Store truffles in rice or egg cartons so that they will absorb the flavor, the odor will penetrate the egg shells, this way, you can get the most flavor out of your eggs without wasting the expensive delicacy.

Truffles are indeed expensive, but they are a luxury that should be enjoyed at some time. If you come across fresh truffles and spring for them, try some of our delicious recipes that accent the flavor of the truffles very well.