What foods pair well with truffles?
Over summer we have been researching the foods that pair well with truffles; it has been a fascinating journey. The initial curiosity and then work of Heston Blumenthal and people like Peter Coucquyt, Bernard Lahousse, Johan Langenbick and James Briscone has been ground breaking. The advances that have been made in food science including the areas of coffee and wine has pushed the appreciation of foods to amazing levels. But what does it mean for the most glorious of ingredients, our truffles?
This year, we're setting our sights on the mysterious world of truffle compounds. Hold on to your toques, because from next week, our monthly features start diving into the latest and greatest in the truffle and food pairing universe. For centuries, chefs have been playing matchmaker between truffles and traditional ingredients, but it's time to shake things up! Thanks to science, we now know why truffles and these ingredients are a match made in heaven, but we're not content with just following tradition. We're on a mission to find new and surprising ingredients to pair with truffles and take your taste buds on a ride. Whether you're a seasoned truffle connoisseur or a curious home cook, our monthly features will help you understand the ins and outs of using truffles like a pro. Get ready to truffle like never before!
To get you excited about our journey into truffle compounds, we wanted to share a delightful recipe we came across recently. This summer dish showcases the unique and versatile flavor of black winter truffles. It's the perfect indulgence for a romantic Valentine's Day celebration. As many chefs know, winter truffles have a natural affinity for seafood, but did you know they also pair with fruits like bananas and mangoes? This opens up a whole world of exciting flavor combinations. Imagine the possibilities! We can't wait to share more culinary delights like this as we delve deeper into the fascinating world of truffle compounds.
The recipe is below, we hope you enjoy it. Share your experience in the comments below if you try it. Enjoy!
Mango Truffle Lobster Salad
Ingredients:
2 lobsters, about 600g each
2 ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted, and diced
2 tablespoons truffle oil (recipe here) ( we suggest you refrigerate it and don't keep the steeped infusion more than a week or two)
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons truffle shavings (or more, it depends on you)
Instructions:
Remove the meat from the lobsters, chop it into bite-size pieces and put it in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the truffle oil, honey, lime juice, coriander, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Add the diced mangoes to the lobster meat, pour the dressing over the top and toss everything together.
Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours meld.
When ready to serve, divide the salad between plates, and top each plate with a sprinkle of truffle shavings.
Serve the salad as a light main course, or as a starter or a side dish. The mango gives a sweet and juicy contrast to the rich and earthy truffle, and the lobster adds a delicate and succulent seafood flavour. The truffle oil and the truffle shavings give the dish a strong truffle aroma, and the lime juice, coriander, and the red pepper flakes balance the flavours and add a bit of a tang and a bit of a heat. Its all there.
Truffles for Valentine's day.
Highlights
Harvests of the while Alba have finished, (though there may a surprise next week with some availability, stay tuned).
Summer truffles are available now
Harvests of the black Perigord truffles are rising to Valentine's day.
The white Alba truffle
None available.
The black Perigord truffle
The difference between truffle prices across our capital cities continues. In Brisbane you should be able to get truffle between $2.60 and $3.00 depending on size and grade. In Sydney it remains between $3 and $4.
Summer truffles
For a bit of variety, in Sydney expect to pay around $1.50 depending on grade and size.
Where to buy truffles in Sydney and Brisbane?
Name | State | Phone |
Sydney | 02 9363 0775 | |
Sydney | 0403 959 158 | |
Truffles of Australia * | Brisbane | 0421 077 705 |
Sydney | 02 9518 9988 |
*Orders are currently being taken for St Valentine's Day