There are few things that can rival the pleasure of eating a nice black truffle. The taste of these tiny salty treats is something that's truly memorable for me. In fact, I've actually had people try to steal my black truffles at times! You might be thinking of what could possibly be such a delightful treat. Well, in this article we'll look at how this black, succulent product comes to be.
A truffle, also known as a black-purple, fruiting body, is actually the fruit of an underground ascomycete organism, mainly one of several species of this genus Tuber. Additionally, some other fungi are also classified as truffles, including Geopora, Geolaria, Peziza, Limonia, and so on.
Truffles are generally harvested when the plant is at its most fertile stage. This is actually during the time when the plant is bearing flowers or pseudobulb. The name "black" refers to the dark coloration of these seeds. If the black coloring is not present, however, the truffle will still taste good even if they're not mature.
Truffles should always be stored with proper refrigeration. Refrigeration helps preserve the saltiness and flavor of these delicious treats. While they're in refrigeration, truffles are sealed tightly and never exposed to light or air.
There are a number of methods of preparing the truffle salt itself. Some recipes call for buying a pre-packed container of this cured food. This isn't always the best idea though, since you can end up wasting a lot of the truffle salt if you don't use it within a very short period of time. To make your own black truffle salt, all you need to do is buy a package of crushed black truffles from any grocery store or online and then make them into salt by using a small amount of salt and white vinegar.
Once you have made the black truffles into salt, keep them in the refrigerator and dry in a towel until required. The longer they are in refrigeration, the more flavorful they'll be. Be sure to let them dry in a cool place, away from heat and direct sunlight. When they're dry enough to hold the taste of the salt, then you can add them to a little oil, honey, and shake it's ready to eat.
This flavor can actually be compared to a bitter-tasting, slightly sweet taste that is similar to that of a grapefruit. The bitterness of it is actually a result of its intense sulfur content.
As mentioned earlier, you will find that black truffles vary from region to region, so you'll probably need to experiment with the method you use to prepare it to get the flavor you prefer. You may be able to find a local shop where you can buy them to help you out.
You can also taste-test various items of cured food before purchasing them, since you may find that you like one item and dislike another and that you need to make slight changes to your recipe in order to produce a favorable result. So, be open to trying something different, and don't settle for the first thing you find as your best option.
After you've found a method you like, the next step is to try it out in your kitchen to see what kind of results you get. Since you're making your own version of this salty treat, you will have the option of adding things to it which may not necessarily be found in commercially produced salt. It's possible to add other types of seasonings that are used in the cooking of foods you typically would like.
You may want to try some of the different varieties of this cured food by using them when grating a piece of cheese and then tasting it after. If you like the flavor of the cheese, you can add it to the salt mixture and mix it to taste.
If you're having trouble finding black truffles to try, you can also purchase some at your local grocery store for a bit of fun or for a special treat. And, as long as you enjoy the process of cooking this savory treat, you can make it your new favorite way of life.
