The black truffle has great gastronomic value , but if we put it in the hands of a great chef, it will create incredible dishes.
Black truffles are an ingredient that must be cooked properly to preserve their wide range of flavors and aromas. Furthermore, proper storage is essential , as they are perishable and require specific conditions for preservation.
If you continue reading this article, we will reveal the secrets of great chefs and their recipes with black truffle.
International Chefs Day
Coincidentally, this week marks International Chefs Day. Every October 20th, this date, established by the World Association of Chefs' Societies, is commemorated to pay tribute to all those responsible for creating the world's most exquisite dishes.
The word chef comes from French and means "head of the kitchen," and in Spain this word gives a distinction to the restaurant.
But the chef isn't just the person in charge of running and managing a restaurant's kitchen. They're also responsible for training the palates of their kitchen assistants and teaching them to create incredible dishes with their personal touch.
The true job of a cook is to ensure that people always have accessible alternatives for their palate , such as the black truffle.
Tuber melanosporum, a luxury ingredient for a chef
The black truffle is one of the great ingredients of haute cuisine , and when a chef chooses it for a recipe, they know the value of the dish. It's also important to keep in mind that the chef must know how to preserve and use it so that it doesn't spoil. As Aurelio Morales, chef of Cebo , a Michelin-starred restaurant, explains on Directo al Paladar , the spoilage of such an expensive product is not the same as that of a cheaper one. He also mentions that he finds no difference between wild and cultivated black truffles. In this interview, he also shares his trick for preserving black truffles: "The truffle should be stored in rice or wrapped in kitchen paper, and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator, already cleaned if we've started using it, or wrapped in clay if we're not going to use it yet." Furthermore, he doesn't recommend freezing black truffles.
The black truffle is also a seasonal product that allows chefs to vary their menus for a few months, offering different new recipes adapted to this ingredient. Hilario Arbelaitz, from the Zuberoa restaurant in Oiartzun (Guipúzcoa), explains this in ABC : “The product is the first thing we look at, and its seasonality is paramount. We like each place you go to to have its own personality based on its surroundings, so you don't eat the same thing here as you would in Indochina. That's why the market always dictates our menu.” And from December to March, the Tuber melanosporum is a product you'll find increasingly on restaurant menus.
In Elle magazine , Chef Andrés Fernández of 7Pines Resort Ibiza explains the price of black truffles: "Truffles are a very special ingredient. Their season is very short and quantities are limited; this makes them a luxury product. Furthermore, they have a sophisticated aroma that adds very interesting flavors to dishes, which is why they are so sought after in the kitchen."
Some of the best black truffle dishes in the world
At Food&Wine, we found the latest winner of the international "Cooking with Truffles" competition. This competition aims to recognize the best truffle dish in the world . This year, the winner was a team of chefs from Thailand , who created the best black truffle dish in the world, led by chef Anthony Burd of Tony's restaurant in Bangkok. The winning dish was " Laminated Truffle Pasta with Beef, Truffle Foie Gras, and Mushrooms."
In this same competition in 2019, the first prize was won by the dish of “Roast beef with truffle butter sauce and pickled mushrooms with truffle” prepared by Antonio Arrabal and Javier Andrade.
As we can see, two very different dishes have won the award for the best truffle dish in the world.
In recent years, television programs about cooking have become popular, bringing the culinary arts to everyone, while also awakening in many people the interest in preparing unique, exquisite recipes and discovering new flavors such as that of the black truffle.
If you too want to be the chef of your own home, you can buy black truffles online at Sentidos Truferos . Enjoy the ease and convenience of online shopping with the security and confidence offered by our platform specializing in black truffles. We also offer some storage and cooking tips so you can fully appreciate this culinary gem.
How to cook black truffle
As some of the great chefs say, you should know how to cook with black truffle to get the most out of it. Here are some of their secrets. Generally, top chefs recommend grating fresh black truffle over dishes like pasta, risotto, or cream soups once they're cooked and plated. This way, the black truffle doesn't lose its aromas and flavors.
But it can also be used in the preparation of sauces, butters or oils that accompany the main ingredient, whether meats, pastas or rices, using the truffle technique.
On the other hand, there are also some ingredients, such as eggs and rice, that can be infused with truffle before cooking. To do this, place the black truffle and a fresh egg or rice in a glass container and refrigerate for a few hours. This way, the eggs or rice will absorb some of the aromas of the black truffle and give the dishes an extra touch of flavor.
How to preserve black truffles
As some chefs also mention , it's essential to know how to preserve black truffles , since they are perishable and require careful handling to prevent spoilage. The main recommendation is to consume them fresh. For this reason, black truffles should be purchased fresh and cleaned. Ideally, they should be consumed as soon as possible, but if not, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It's recommended to wrap the truffle in absorbent kitchen paper (truffles contain water and gradually release moisture) and store it in a jar in the refrigerator . The paper should be changed if it becomes damp, and the jar should be dried.
Now that you know the secrets of the great chefs and the black truffle, we encourage you to take the plunge and buy black truffle online and enjoy all its flavor in your recipes.
