Have you ever heard of truffle oil?
Chances are good you probably have, especially if you’re been paying attention to current trends in cooking and culinary ingredients.
Truffle oil is a popular ingredient that has been taking chefs by storm for the past several years! But what is it and how can you learn more about it?
That’s what I’m here for!
I understand that learning about truffle oil might seem like a daunting task. There’s so much information out there that it’s hard to make heads or tails of it, right?
Don’t worry! In this article, I’ll give you a complete, in-depth look at truffle oil with all the most important aspects of this cooking ingredient expanded on thoroughly. I’ll teach you everything you need to know about what truffle oil is, how it’s made, how you can use it, and what it tastes like. I’ll even give you a few recipes to help you get started incorporating it into your cooking.
By the time you’ve finished reading through this article, you’ll be a truffle oil guru! You’ll be able to answer questions your friends and family might have about this delicious ingredient and you’ll be well prepared to head to your kitchen and start cooking.
And of course, if you don’t have truffle oil on hand already, I’ll give you some pointers so you can go shopping, too!
So what are you waiting for? There’s a lot to learn about, so let’s get started exploring the wide world of truffle oil.
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What is truffle oil?
You’ve probably got one big question on your mind right now. Truffle oil: what is it? You may be able to tell from the name that it’s a type of oil, and of course, it sounds like it’s made from truffles, but what is truffle oil really? This section is here to give you a crash course in this tasty ingredient and answer all the questions you might have about it in general.
What is it made of?
One of the first questions most chefs ask when presented with this ingredient is, “What’s truffle oil made of?” To put it plainly, it’s usually made from a combination of a type of oil and some infusion of truffle. But this just scratches the surface. Authentic truffle oil is usually made from extra virgin olive oil, although it could be made from other types of high-quality oil instead. It’s then infused with grated, diced, or shaved pieces of real black or white truffles to give it flavor.
Synthetic truffle oil starts with the same base ingredient—a good oil—and then is infused with a chemical gas that simulates the taste and smell of truffles. It doesn’t contain any real truffle ingredients.
What is black truffle oil
So what is black truffle oil? You’ve probably seen this on the shelves at your local specialty market. This oil is made by infusing the taste of real black truffles into oli ve oil to give it a deep, rich flavor. Synthetic black truffle oil is designed to mimic this flavor at a lower cost.
What is white truffle oil?
But what is white truffle oil then? Similarly, white truffle oil is olive or another type of quality oil infused with real pieces of white truffle for a lighter and more acidic flavor. It can also be produced synthetically with a manmade gas. Real white truffle oil is usually more expensive than black truffle oil, but not always.
Which brands are the best?
That’s all great, but what is the best truffle oil to purchase? The type of oil you choose depends largely on what you want in terms of flavor, which we’ll discuss in the next section. As for brands, Urbani and D’artagnan are some of the most prized truffle oil brands around the world, although there are others worth mentioning too. Check out our section on buying truffle oil a little later in this article for more.
What does it taste like?
Now that you’ve learned a bit about what truffle oil is, you’re probably asking the next important question: What does truffle oil taste like?
Black Truffle Oil
Black truffle oil is a little bit less popular than white, but it’s still easy to find and just as easy to work with. So what does black truffle oil taste like? This variation of truffle oil has a very rich, earthy taste and aroma that hits you as soon as you give it a whiff. You’ll be amazed by how much this oil can taste like a sweet combination of dry wine and mineral flavor. There’s even a bit of musty mushroom taste to this oil, although there are no actual mushrooms in it (and truffles aren’t really mushrooms either). This is a hearty oil and a little bit goes a long way in cooking.
White Truffle Oil
If you’re looking for a truly refined truffle oil experience, choose white truffle oil for a unique flavor you’ll never forget. And what does white truffle oil taste like? It’s much lighter overall than black truffle oil, and it has an acidic and almost ammonia-like smell when you first sniff it. It still has that hint of mineral taste to it, but the earthiness is gone and replaced with something more akin to garlic and onion or shallot. It isn’t quite as sweet and savory as black truffle oil, but it is very zippy and tangy. Although the flavor is lighter, it still goes a long way in your cooking as well, so try not to overuse it in your recipes.
How does it change the flavor of food?
Truffle oil is used in a wide variety of different foods to change the flavor of their ingredients and create something new and exciting for you to enjoy. Some of your favorite dinners can be made much different when you incorporate truffle oil into the mix.
- Steak – Steaks made with black truffle oil on top have a rich, deep flavor that brings out the taste of the beef beautifully. Since this oil tastes a bit like mushrooms, it pairs nicely with beef.
- Salads – Drizzle white truffle oil over any salad to give it an incredible new flavor. This oil pairs nicely with balsamic vinegar for a new twist on an oil and vinegar dressing.
- Egg dishes – Any type of egg dish can be made even better with white truffle oil. The simple taste of eggs can be brought to life with the zip of this oil, and scrambled eggs are a very popular method for cooking with white truffle oil.
- Soup – Drizzle either type of truffle oil over your soup at the end for a delicious finish, but be careful not to overdo it. Both can add a new dimension of flavor to your soup, but both can easily overpower a lighter dish like this.
- Rice – Rice and risotto work nicely with white truffle oil since they are mild in flavor and can let the oil really shine. Although black truffle oil may work in some rice dishes, be sure to choose your other ingredients with caution to make it blend nicely.
- Pasta – Pasta holds up to both types of truffle oil very well. Either variety will soak into the pasta and flavor it beautifully with either a mushroom-like or garlic-like taste that goes nicely with Italian dishes.
The Making of Truffle Oil
Many chefs ask, “What is truffle oil made from?” when they want to get started cooking with this ingredient. In this section, I’ll give you a brief run-down of what to expect from the ingredients in your oil, and how to tell what is in truffle oil you purchase.
How do truffles form?
Before you can answer the question “What is truffle oil made out of?” you first need to understand where truffles come from and how they form. Truffles grow as a fungus on the roots of many types of trees, most of which are nut trees. They require a very specific type of climate to thrive, and they form a symbiotic relationship with their tree hosts that help keep both alive and growing strong. It takes years for a fully mature truffle to form on the roots of a host tree.
How are truffles harvested?
When truffles are ready to be harvested, they’re usually “hunted” by individuals using a variety of different methods. While pigs were traditionally used to sniff out truffles since they’re capable of smelling them deep beneath the earth, they also often ate the truffles. Because of this, dogs are now used more commonly than pigs. Some truffle hunters rake the ground under trees to find truffles, but this can be damaging to the tree and is frowned upon.
How does a raw truffle become truffle oil?
That’s a lot of information, but what is truffle oil made of and how does this have anything to do with it? After the truffles are harvested, they’re sorted based on those that are big enough to sell at market and those that aren’t. The ones that aren’t are diced or grated and added to other ingredients like butter, sauce, and even oil for infusing. This is the birth of truffle oil!
What to do with truffle oil
Now that you know so much about truffle oil in general, you may be wondering what to do with truffle oil in your cooking. When you’re trying to figure out what to make with truffle oil, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the types of recipes that this ingredient is traditionally used in. From there, you can figure out new and exciting ways to incorporate it into your food. The next time you catch yourself wondering “What is truffle oil used for?” you’ll be able to remember this list and pick your favorite to help you get started with your favorite new cooking ingredient.
Best Uses for White Truffle Oil
What do you use truffle oil for when you’ve never tried it before? If you have white truffle oil, there are many different ideas available to you. White truffle oil is more popular than its counterpart, so when you’re trying to figure out what to use white truffle oil on, you’ve got a lot of options.
- Rice – Rice and risotto work well with white truffle oil. Drizzle it in while cooking to flavor the dish throughout.
- Pasta – Drizzle white truffle oil over pasta just before serving to get a burst of flavor throughout your dish. Chicken or vegetable-based pasta dishes are best for this type of oil.
- Eggs – Most of the time, if you ask someone “what is white truffle oil used for?” you’ll likely be told “eggs.” This is a very popular way to use your white truffle oil since fluffy, warm eggs soak up the flavor well and highlight it beautifully.
- Bread – If you’re still looking for ideas for what to do with white truffle oil, try drizzling it on bread toasted in the oven with some cheese or even just Italian seasonings. It also goes nicely on toasted flatbread or even on sandwiches.
Best Uses for Black Truffle Oil
Now that you know what to cook with truffle oil when you have the white variety on hand, it’s time to learn what to do with black truffle oil too. This type of oil has a stronger flavor, so it may be a little bit harder to figure out how to use it in your cooking. However, if you follow these tips, you’ll know what to use truffle oil on no matter what type you have available.
- Pizza – Drizzle truffle oil on your pizza and let it warm in the last few minutes of cooking to make your ingredients come alive. Alternately, drizzle it on the dough while baking to give your crust an intense flavor.
- Beef – As we’ve discussed earlier in this article, black truffle oil can really make beef come alive. Try it on just about any dish that features beef as the highlight and you’ll see what a difference it can really make.
- Stew – Soups may not be sturdy enough to stand up to a lot of black truffle oil, but a hearty stew or chili is always nice when drizzled with this ingredient at the finish. Just be careful not to drizzle on too much!
- Pasta – So what is truffle oil good for other than these dishes? When all else fails, add black truffle oil to your pasta just like you would white truffle oil. It works in much the same way but should always be used with heartier ingredients like mushrooms and steak rather than chicken and vegetables.
How much is truffle oil anyway?
One of the most important aspects to consider when buying this ingredient is truffle oil cost. In this section, I’ll give you plenty of tips for shopping for your truffle oil.
Average Prices of Truffle Oil
How much does truffle oil cost normally? This depends on the type of oil you purchase. Authentic truffle oil usually costs at least $15 for a bottle of about 3 ounces but may cost even more than this. You can cut the cost in half by using synthetic truffle oil if you don’t mind your oil lacking real truffle ingredients.
Is online cheaper than brick and mortar?
The cost of truffle oil varies depending on whether you purchase from online shops or brick and mortar stores as well. You can usually get a better deal on more authentic products online, but you do have to worry about paying for shipping from many online stores. Weigh your options when it comes to quality versus shipping cost to decide whether shopping online is right for you or not.
Which products can be found online?
- Urbani – Urbani white truffle oil runs around $12 for just under 2oz. This is a bit more expensive than you can expect to pay for store brands, but it is a very well-known brand name in the world of truffles and truffle products. Every now and then this brand may be found in stores like Whole Foods.
- Oregon White Truffle Oil – This company sells $15 bottles at 2oz each of nice quality white truffle oil. Once again, this may be more affordable in stores. The black truffle oil from this company costs even more. However, the company ships from the US, which can save you money on shipping.
- D’artagnan – This company is another well-known name in the world of truffles. They sell a larger 8oz bottle of black or white truffle oil for around $25, which is quite affordable. This may be your best bet when ordering online, but don’t forget shipping costs.
Is ordering online better or easier?
How much is truffle oil when buying online? If you want some of the best products around in terms of quality of the oil and other ingredients both, shopping online is the way to go. However, if you prefer to cut down on the cost of shipping, buying online may not work for you. I personally purchase all of my truffle oil online so I can get it from reputable truffle dealers.
The best truffle oil recipes
Now that you’ve learned so much about truffle oil, including how it’s made, what flavors you can expect to enjoy from it, and where to purchase some for yourself, it’s time to put all that information into practice by preparing some of the best recipes with truffle oil around. These recipes are all some of my favorites, and I’m sure they’ll become some of your favorites too, as soon as you give them a try. Prepare the best truffle oil recipes available to you anytime you’re looking for a way to liven up your meals with this tasty ingredient.
Truffle Oil Delights for One and for All
Here is EVERY SINGLE Truffle Oil post on our site...
Take your pick and begin your culinary adventure! ENJOY!
Conclusion
You’ve learned a lot about truffle oil today—congratulations!
You’ve come a long way from the beginning of this article when you just wanted to learn more about this delicious ingredient. Now that you’ve read through this article, you should be well-versed in everything there is to know about truffle oil from start to finish. You know what truffles are and how they’re used to make oil, and you know about the different varieties of truffle oil, too. You even know how to use those oils in your own cooking and you’ve got five incredible recipes to help you get started. And if you need to purchase your oil still, you know where to start looking.
That’s a lot of information!
So what are you going to do with it all?
The first step is to get the perfect truffle oil for your needs. Whether you choose to shop online or go to a brick and mortar store, buying the oil is the best way to get started. From there, you can pick your favorite recipe from those listed above or even try incorporating truffle oil into your favorite dishes on your own.
Whichever way you choose to sample truffle oil for the first time, you’re sure to be in for a surprising and delightful treat. Your whole family will soon fall in love with this ingredient and you’ll want to cook with truffle oil every day.
With all the information you’ve learned in this article, you’ll be able to use it in many new and exciting ways!
