More people are talking about the benefits of black truffles these days. While in the past they were more expensive and reserved for the elite, they are now becoming more accessible and widespread. Even with their cost, some still wonder if they're worth it, or if they're at all safe to use.
Truffles can be made of any type of meat, including beef, pork, chicken, and even seafood. A truffle's fleshy appearance is what has made them so well-liked.
Prosciutto is a salty cut of beef that is raised in the U.S. It's also known as sopressata, an Italian word for sopressata (salt-wrapped). Prosciutto comes from parts of Italy, France, and Spain.
Truffles have to be prepared by a special salt-molding technique. The molds are then placed in salt water, which evaporates, leaving the salt inside. This helps keep the salt solid in its brine.
The truffle salt is made by crushing the truffles. When done properly, the truffles have a saltiness that resembles sesame seeds. The process is almost exactly the same as preparing olive oil. You have to put the olive oil in a pot and let it heat, then slowly add the salt as it melts.
Once the salt has been added, it has to remain in the oil as the solid truffles start to turn into a liquid. The truffle oil turns into a slush that sinks to the bottom of the pot, where it absorbs more liquid.
The black truffle salt should have the salt dissolve in about an hour. Many times, you need to wait overnight, although a shorter wait will usually work fine.
By holding the jar of black truffle salt over a pan of water, the mixture turns from a wet substance to a cold and dense ice. This creates a very impressive effect.
Black Truffle Salt will be used to melt chocolate and make chocolate fudge.
To prevent the white truffles from turning black, make sure you rinse them before using. Rinse the beans completely, so you can avoid losing the 'dust' on them.
If you plan to eat the truffles right away, just a few minutes of soaking will make them ready to go. However, if you plan to store them for later, you'll need to leave them overnight.
If you're going to be buying truffles as a gift, use plastic wrap or other edible drying papers instead of cloth paper bags. This way, you can ensure they don't spoil.
You will find that buying black truffle salt makes a great gift. And don't forget that even though these flavors are expensive, they're also good tasting!