A black truffle, also known as French truffle, is a rare, hard-to-find mushroom that grows in the caves in France. A truffle contains a single black “eye” which, when pulled out, reveals the black interior which is edible. This fungi is actually a member of the Ascomycota family of fungi. The scientific name of this fungi is Hypocotyle cinnamomi.
A truffle is actually the fruiting reproductive body of a tiny subterranean ascomycanete fungus, primarily one of the classifications of the genus Tuber. In addition to Tuber, several other genera of fungi have been named as truffles, such as Geopora, Peziza, Choiromyces, Leucangium, and more than a hundred others. There is some speculation as to what actually makes the fungi produce the black “eye” of a truffle, but it appears that the interior is coated in some kind of color pigments, most likely melange. The melange can help prevent the drying out of the interior, and black truffle salt was created by soaking the mushrooms in salt water for hours, and then carefully removing the black coloring with a strong vacuum.
Black truffles have been used for hundreds of years and were often considered luxurious, since they were only eaten by the upper class and royalty in Europe. They are no longer considered luxurious and acceptable amongst most of society, as they are much more affordable and widely available. However, many people still love truffles, as they are very flavorful and can be used for different occasions. They are particularly appealing when made with cream cheese, since the smooth texture of the cheese will resemble that of currants or strawberries. When this is combined with the mushroom coating, the result is a delicious and distinctive truffle salt.
Although it’s not recommended that you use regular table salt when you bake with truffles, using sea salt will work just as well. It will simply add a wonderful flavor to your breads and pastas, as well as your desserts. The texture of sea salt is similar to that of fine sand, so using sea salt will make your breads and pastas smoother and moister. You can also use black truffle salt to add a hint of flavor to your salads, or to top off your vegetables like broccoli. They make great additions to meat, fish, and seafood dishes, as well as a good choice for creating dips and spreads for grilled foods and vegetables.
Using black truffle salt has also long been known to keep food from sticking to the bottom of containers. This is especially important if you’re making sauce out of meat or fish. Many of today’s dishes require you to drain most of the liquid before adding anything else, which can lead to sticky fingers and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. However, using this kind of salt on the bottom of your containers will help prevent food from sticking to your containers, which makes your cooking more enjoyable. This is especially important if you’re trying to make stock, soup, or sauce out of vegetables.
Another way that black truffle salt can be used for your cooking is to cook dishes that call for rare or gourmet-quality meats and cheeses. These include rabbit, trout, salmon, beef, and Swiss cheese, among many others. By draining the liquids prior to putting any of these meats on the bottom of your baking dishes, you can ensure that they will remain fully immersed in their own juice, allowing you to create delicious meals that are healthier for you as well as more delicious than if you just left them off the plate. This simple method can make a world of difference when it comes to enjoying great food and delicious desserts.