Lemon Truffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you prepare truffles? ›

Typically, truffles are thinly shaved on top of a cooked meal but if you grate them on a Microplane instead, the fine shavings incorporate better with the dish. Truffles are commonly used in pasta dishes, risotto, sauces, or grated over seafood or meat.

Use a higher chocolate-to-cream ratio to produce a thicker ganache. Milk chocolate, white chocolate, and compound chocolate all melt down to a thinner consistency than dark chocolate does. For a thicker ganache, like for truffles, use a 2:1 ratio of chocolate to cream.

Growing truffles is notoriously difficult and a lot of patience is needed, as there are no guarantees, but you can follow our guide for a successful truffle harvest to tip the balance in your favour.

Lots of language has been used to describe the truffle flavor: mold, garlic, soil, onions without heat, meat, sweet body odor — but those descriptors are beside the point. Truffles are irresistible because their aroma is composed of chemicals that mimic mammalian reproductive pheromones.

Truffles are known for their earthy, umami-rich flavor and heady, musky aroma. Their flavor is sometimes compared to mushrooms, although truffles are more intense and complex in taste and far more fragrant. The exact profile varies by variety, season and quality, incorporating nutty, garlicky or floral notes.

The reason behind such high costs is the scarcity of the produce, truffles are seasonal, extremely difficult to grow, and take many years to cultivate. They also have a short shelf life. Truffles require a very specific climate to grow and require lots of oak trees, that's why they're often found in woodland.

Avoid pairing truffles with ingredients that are too spicy or acidic–like citrus or tomato sauce–as these are likely to overpower the truffle's flavor.

Semi-sweet or dark chocolate make a very intense chocolate truffle and milk chocolate yields a sweeter truffle. If using milk chocolate, reduce the cream to 1/2 cup as milk chocolate is much softer than dark chocolate. Do not use white chocolate in this recipe because it's too thin.

Full-fat coconut milk or a blend of coconut milk and coconut cream are an ideal substitute for heavy cream. The truffles in this photo are made from canned coconut milk; I recommend choosing a brand that is in a container that doesn't contain BPA.

What if my truffle mix is too runny? ›

If the mixture is getting too soft, put it in the fridge or freezer and let it firm up before continuing.

If your ganache isn't firm enough to scoop into balls, you can chill it in the fridge to harden. Or, whip it very briefly until the color just begins to lighten—about 30 seconds on medium-low with a hand mixer. Let it set again and it will firm up. Roll the truffles in cocoa powder, shaking off any excess cocoa.

Truffles should be eaten at the peak of ripeness (unripe truffles are not so flavourful). Black truffles are peeled and can be used raw or lightly cooked, while white truffles are just carefully wiped and cleaned and should never be cooked.

For this reason, it's rare to actually cook truffles. Instead, it's typical to shave them thinly over the top of hot, cooked food before serving, letting the warmth of the food activate the flavors and aromas. This is especially true of white truffles.

Truffles are known for their earthy, umami-rich flavor and heady, musky aroma. Their flavor is sometimes compared to mushrooms, although truffles are more intense and complex in taste and far more fragrant. The exact profile varies by variety, season and quality, incorporating nutty, garlicky or floral notes.

To eat truffles by themselves, you can simply slice them thinly and enjoy them as is, or you can shave them over a dish to enhance its flavor. Some people also like to sprinkle truffle salt or truffle oil over their food for an added burst of truffle flavor.