Truffle butter is known for the lovely, creamy, earthy flavor it imparts to dishes. Truffles are exotic mushrooms, which is why the butter prepared with them is also expensive. Besides the store-bought ones you can also prepare this butter at home. Let’s take a look as to how…
Truffle butter is a type of butter, prepared from a type of mushroom. Since there are only a few edible varieties of truffle, these fungi are exorbitantly priced. The butter made from this fungus is a creamy delight that is enjoyed in many French, Italian, and other European cuisines. There are two popular varieties of truffles, Italian white truffles and French black truffles. The white truffle is the rarest of all varieties, thus most expensive of them all. Since truffle is very expensive, truffle butter is often prepared using truffle oil, however, the flavor isn’t as heavenly. Let’s take a look at how we can prepare this condiment from truffles, as well as truffle oil.
Preparing Truffle Butter
This butter complements almost any delicacy you cook like corn, baked potatoes, vegetables, etc. It helps add a distinct flavor and buttery consistency to dishes. To prepare this butter you need the following ingredients.
Using White Truffles
- 1 pound unsalted, softened butter
- White truffle oil to taste
- Salt to taste
Method of Preparation
You need to mix the butter and truffle oil in a bowl and season it with salt. Take a spoonful of butter and place it in a large plastic wrap. Fold the wrap in such a way that the mixture attains a log-like shape, about 1 inch thick. Place the butter in the refrigerator till it hardens.
Using Black Truffles
- 2 to 4 ounces black truffles
- 1 pound unsalted, softened butter
- Salt to taste
Method of Preparation
Clean the fresh black truffles properly and grate them into fine pieces. Add the grated truffles into butter and mix them into a smooth consistency. You can taste your butter and add more truffle accordingly. Now, add salt to taste. Take a spoonful of butter and place it in a large plastic wrap. Fold the wrap in such a way that it attains a log-like shape, about 1 inch thick. Allow the flavors to blend into the butter by placing it a covered crock. Place the butter in the refrigerator for about 3 days. It is now ready to use.
Pasta with Truffle Butter
The addition of a bit of this mushroom butter can accentuate the flavor of a pasta dish, like nothing else can. To prepare this dish you need:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons minced shallots
- 8 ounces fettuccine
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons truffle butter
- Fresh truffle or shavings
Method of Preparation
You need to add salt to a pot of boiling water and cook the pasta in it. Rinse and drain. In a skillet, saute the shallots in a little butter, until they tenderize. To the tender shallots, add heavy cream and cook until the sauce reduces or thickens. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, and toss it around, so that the sauce coats the pasta thoroughly. Add the butter to the pasta and remove from heat. Add salt to taste. Serve hot.
Sauce with Truffle Butter
This variety of butter makes a creamy base for your recipe. You can substitute ordinary butter with butter prepared from truffles, and can give your dishes that special edge. To prepare this sauce you need the following ingredients:
- 1 large scallop, minced
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- ⅛ cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon truffle butter
Method of Preparation
Sauté shallots in olive oil, on medium heat until they turn translucent. Then, add white wine and rice wine vinegar to the shallots and reduce the heat when it reaches a syrup-like consistency. To this, add heavy cream and cook until the quantity has been reduced by half. Now remove from heat and swirl in 1 tablespoon truffle butter. If you want a thicker consistency, add one more tablespoon. You can use this sauce in any recipe you like.
As you can see preparing this butter is not rocket science, however, make sure you purchase these truffles from the grocery store. Picking them from the wild can be very risky, unless you’re a fungus expert. Incorporate this butter into various dishes, and enjoy the flavor it imparts!
