Truffle salt (Truffle) is a white crystalline salt harvested from the roots of the Tuber tree. A truffle is essentially the fruiting body of an ascomycium subterranean fungus, most notably one of the species of the genus Tuber. In addition to Tuber, several other genera of fungus are also classified as truffle fungi, including Geopora, Peziza, Choiromyces, and more than a hundred others. The Ascomycota or root of the fungi can be found in the soil of moist, dark places like Europe and Asia. The flowers bloom on trees, mainly poplar, which is why they're called poplar black truffle salt.
When used for cooking and baking, truffle salt is often added to foods to make them more appealing to the eye, such as bread and candies. For instance, putting truffle salt on cookies or cakes makes the eyes of the beholder water. The same effect can be achieved by sprinkling the salt on a savory dish. While this salt isn't highly regarded as a flavor enhancer, it does add that nice texture to food, especially meats and fish.
It's not hard to make truffles. All you need is flour, butter, and sugar. Truffles also need only to be cooked at a high temperature and long enough to achieve their maximum moisture content. Cooking truffle has been known to take up to 2 hours, depending on the size of the truffle. There is even some debate as to how long they should actually cook for, but most people consider the dish done when the bottom part of the truffle shows clear signs of turning black.
There are many ways to serve truffle. Many elect to place them on a plate, covered with silverware, or place them on top of baked potatoes. When using them on the plate, it's best to choose cold ingredients. To add some flavor to the truffle coating, sprinkling some on a tooth pick prior to baking is an easy, quick way to incorporate some truffle flavor into the meal. Another way is to use them as an ingredient for a salad.
In addition, truffles can be used to create a variety of sweets. One such sweet treat is a truffle mousse. Used in place of fondant, the truffle mousse is made with eggs, sugar, and water. Typically, the mixture is used for pastries but may also be used in a variety of desserts, including ice cream and pudding.
Salt-baked truffles make a popular treat during the holidays. Salt-baked truffles can be created by placing truffles in a skillet with a small amount of butter or oil. Over medium heat, the truffle will begin to caramelize. Once they are almost burned, remove them from heat and place them on a truffle salt tumbler to cool. Allow cooling completely before using in a homemade recipe.
For another way to enjoy black truffle salt, extract the juice of fresh truffles, and pour it into a bowl of cool boiled water. Add vanilla and lemon extracts to the mixture and stir until the truffle salt has dissolved completely. It's then a great ice cream alternative that can be enjoyed any time of year. As the mixture cools, it may start to solidify, which creates a texture similar to pudding. Drinking truffle water in place of sodas or coffee is a great way to enjoy truffle salt on a regular basis.
With so many recipes for truffle salt available, you can make a truffle dish for any event or just enjoy the pleasure of having it around. Because it's salty, it serves as an excellent food choice to complement heavier foods like turkey or pasta dishes. In fact, truffle salt is even a good ingredient to use in baking recipes since it helps to draw out the natural flavors in foods. And, for people who are allergic to salt, there is no need to worry since the high amounts of minerals in truffle salt won't produce any negative side effects.