Truffle Oil

I’m not a fan of the fungi family, but I fully understand why the truffle is a delicacy. Its rich taste and meaty texture makes it less of a mushroom and more a slice of heaven.

Unfortunately, it is rather expensive. So to get that truffle flavour into your everyday dishes, without re mortgaging your house, buy truffle oil. It costs about £5 a 50cl bottle, and all you need is a drizzle. Here’s a few examples of how to use your new found treasure.

Over Potatoes

Ingredients

2 tblsp butter
3 tsps truffle oil
500g New Jersey/Charlotte/Rebecca potatoes

Method

1. In a large pan of salted water, boil the potatoes
2. Over a gentle heat, melt butter in a pan
3. Add truffle oil
4. Mix well
5. Pour over the hot drained potatoes

Over Pasta

Ingredients

2 tblsp basil (chopped fresh/dried)
2 tblsp parsley (chopped fresh/dried)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tsps truffle oil
250g pasta (of choice)

Method

1. In a large pan of salted water, cook the pasta
2. In a small bowl mix basil, parsley, garlic and truffle oil.
3; Pour over hot drained pasta
4. Mix well
5. Serve hot with grated (parmesan) cheese

Over Bread

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes, chopped finely
1 large onion, chopped finely
2 tblsp basil (chopped fresh/dried)
1 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tblsp olive oil
3 tsps truffle oil
100g grated (parmesan) cheese

Method

1. In a small saucepan gently heat the olive oil and truffle oil
2. Add onions
3. Stir constantly until onions are soft
4. Add tomatoes, basil, salt and garlic
5. Simmer over minimum heat for 2-3 minutes
6. Take off the heat and spread the mixture over crusty bread (ciabatta/baguette for example)
7. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the mixture
8. Place under a hot grill under golden and bubbly

This recipe is commonly known as Bruschetta. It will keep 2 days in the fridge (uncovered), 4 days if in kept in a tupperware dish and it freezes beautifully.

Add a drizzle of truffle oil to your vegetable water, over your roast potatoes or even your cauliflower cheese. Once you taste the difference it makes you’ll be drizzling it everywhere!