Truffle Salt: The Perfect Cheese Pairing Guide

Truffles and cheese are a match made in heaven. Truffles are the fruiting bodies of the genus Tuber and grow underground intertwined with tree roots. They have an earthy, pungent, nutty flavour. When paired with cheese, the combination is a seductive, irresistible burst of umami. Truffles are usually shaved and added to the cheese or incorporated into the cheese itself. There are many types of truffle cheese, including Sottocenere, Truffle Tremor, Truffle Tremor, Truffle Tremor, and Truffle Tremor. When cooking with truffle cheese, it's important to consider temperature, as heat helps to release the aroma of the truffles.

Truffle cheese pasta

Ingredients

• 250 g (9 oz) tagliatelle
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 100 g (3.5 oz) mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 15 g (1.07 tbsp) salted butter
• 150 g (1.5 cups) truffle cheese, grated
• 30 g (⅓ cup) parmesan or Italian hard cheese, grated
• 240 ml (1 cup) single cream
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, optional
• Olive oil, for cooking

Method

• Boil the pasta according to the package instructions. Add the peas for the last minute of the cooking time, then drain, reserving some of the cooking water.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat a little olive oil in a deep pan, and saute the shallots for a minute or two until soft.
• Add the mushrooms, garlic, and butter to the pan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are deeply browned and all of the liquid in the pan is evaporated.
• Add the cream and mix through, then turn off the heat.
• Add both of the cheeses and mix through until they're melted and a thick sauce has formed. Cover and set aside while you wait for the pasta to finish cooking.
• Add the pasta and peas to the pan with the sauce, along with the parsley, if using. Toss through until mixed, adding some of the reserved pasta cooking water if the mixture feels too thick.

Tips

• Truffle cheese pasta can be made with different types of pasta, such as linguine or penne.
• Shallots and garlic provide background flavor for the sauce, but you can use a red onion instead of shallots.
• Any type of mushroom can be used, and you can add more or leave them out entirely.
• Truffle cheese is the star of the dish, but you can also add Parmesan or Italian hard cheese to strengthen the sauce.
• Peas are a great addition to break up the umami flavor and add texture.
• If you can't find single cream, you can use heavy cream and thin out the sauce with pasta cooking water.
• Fresh parsley is an optional but nice touch for garnish.

Truffle cheese and wine

Truffle cheese is a unique and indulgent treat, with its earthy notes, nutty flavour, and distinct aroma. When it comes to wine, the goal is to enhance these characteristics rather than overpower or mask them. Here are some recommendations and tips for pairing wine with truffle cheese:

Wine Varietals

• Sparkling Wine: A crisp and dry sparkling wine, such as Chanceny Saumur Brut from the Loire Valley, is an excellent choice. It boasts floral and fruit notes that elegantly complement the cheese.
• Red Wine: Le Petit Caboche, with its red fruit tones and subtle oak aroma, pairs exquisitely with the flavour of truffle cheese.
• Aged White Wine: An aged, lightweight white wine like Fray Leon Reserva Sauvignon Blanc creates a mouth-watering balance to the earthy and nutty flavours of the cheese.
• Port Wine: For a decadent after-dinner treat, pair a bottle of Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage Port with a black truffle cheddar.

General Tips

• Temperature: Truffle cheese is best served at room temperature to allow the full release of its aroma and flavour.
• Presentation: Keep the presentation simple, with neutral-flavoured crackers or bread, so that the truffle cheese remains the star of the show.
• Wine Characteristics: Avoid bold, highly tannic red wines, as they can mask the delicate flavours of the truffle cheese. Instead, opt for wines with delicate and complementary notes.
• Experimentation: Don't be afraid to experiment with different wine and cheese combinations until you find the perfect pairing for your palate.

In addition to wine, truffle cheese also pairs well with various charcuterie and cured meats, such as prosciutto di Parma, cured ham, and salami. When it comes to chutney, a deep, rich sticky fig chutney can be an ideal companion to truffle cheese.

Truffle cheese and meat

When it comes to meat, various charcuterie and cured meats go well with truffle cheese. The salty but subtle flavour of Prosciutto di Parma is a delicious accompaniment, while thin slices of cured ham offer a sensational contrast, boosting the overall taste experience. Cured salami, such as Soppressata, can also be a mouth-watering option, resulting in a heavenly symphony of flavours and textures.

Truffle cheese is any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a culinary fungus that grows underground. Truffles have an earthy, pungent, nutty flavour. The cheese is flavoured with truffle shavings, truffle oil, or both. Any style of cheese made from any type of milk can be flavoured with truffles.

When pairing truffles and cheese, there is a wide variety of cheeses that work well, including fresh cheeses, hard rind cheeses, and even blue cheeses. Truffle honey and blue cheese is a great combination, in particular, a dolce-style blue is complemented by the almost savoury flavour of truffle honey. The only cheeses to avoid are those that are too pungent, like black pepper pecorino, or washed rinds that have a strong flavour component or marinated or herbed goat cheese.

Truffle cheese and chutney

Truffle cheese is a luxurious treat, with its earthy, nutty, and aromatic flavour. When it comes to pairing truffle cheese with chutney, a deep, rich, sticky fig chutney is a perfect match. The sweet flavour of the fig will complement the savoury, salty notes of the truffle cheese.

When serving truffle cheese, it is best to keep it simple, so as not to overwhelm the delicate flavour of the cheese. A neutral-flavoured cracker or bread is a good base, allowing the truffle cheese to shine.

Truffle cheese can be made from any type of milk and flavoured with truffle shavings, truffle oil, or both. Some popular truffle cheeses include:

• Truffle Tremor: a soft, fluffy goat's milk cheese with black truffle pieces.
• Truffle Cheddar: a classic cheddar flavoured with truffle shavings or truffle salt.
• Truffle Gouda: a Dutch gouda with black truffle flecks, less sharp and sweet than other goudas.
• Sottocenere: an Italian semi-soft cheese with a strong truffle aroma and a milder truffle flavour, with a blend of spices rubbed into the rind.

Truffle cheese can be enjoyed on its own, or as part of a dish. It can be grated over eggs, pizza, pasta, or even mac 'n' cheese. It can also be melted into a fondue or used in a grilled cheese sandwich.

When pairing truffle cheese with wine, a crisp, dry sparkling wine like Chanceny Saumur Brut or a lightweight white wine like Fray Leon Reserva Sauvignon Blanc are good choices. For red wine lovers, a Le Petit Caboche is a great option, with its red fruit tones and subtle oak aroma.

Truffle cheese and crackers

Types of Truffle Cheese

Truffle cheese is any cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a prized fungus known for its earthy, pungent, and nutty flavour. Here are some popular types of truffle cheese:

• Sottocenere: An Italian semi-soft cheese with a strong truffle aroma and a milder truffle flavour. It contains specks of black truffles and a blend of spices rubbed into the rind.
• Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino: A Sardinian sheep's milk cheese with the earthy, nutty, and salty flavour of pecorino layered with black truffle paste.
• Boschetto al Tartufo: A semi-soft Italian cheese made from a blend of cow and sheep milk, allowing the flavour of white truffle shavings to dominate.
• Truffle Tremor: A soft and fluffy pasteurized goat's milk cheese from California, flecked with bits of black truffle.
• Truffle and Salt Cheddar: An aged, pasteurized cheddar made with black truffle salt, crafted in Idaho.
• Grafton Truffle Cheddar: A classic Vermont cheddar flavoured with truffle shavings.
• Truffle Gouda: Dutch Gouda with flecks of black truffle, less sharp and sweet than other types of Gouda, allowing the truffle flavour to shine.

Pairing Truffle Cheese with Crackers

When serving truffle cheese, it is best to keep it simple and let the truffle flavour take centre stage. Here are some tips for pairing truffle cheese with crackers:

• Choose neutral-flavoured crackers or a sliced baguette to avoid overpowering the truffle cheese.
• Look for plain crackers that won't compete with the aromatic taste of the truffle cheese.
• Avoid strongly flavoured crackers or those with herbs, as they may clash with the delicate flavour of the truffle cheese.

Enhancing the Experience

While truffle cheese and crackers are delicious on their own, here are some suggestions to elevate the experience:

• Wine Pairing: A crisp, dry sparkling wine like Chanceny Saumur Brut or a lightweight white wine like Fray Leon Reserva Sauvignon Blanc can complement the earthy, nutty notes of the truffle cheese. For red wine lovers, Le Petit Caboche is a great option, with its red fruit tones and subtle oak aroma.
• Meat Pairing: Cured meats like Prosciutto di Parma, thin slices of cured ham, or cured salami (Soppressata) can enhance the overall taste experience when served alongside truffle cheese and crackers.
• Chutney: A rich and sticky fig chutney can add a sweet and savoury dimension to the truffle cheese and crackers, creating a complex flavour profile.
• Other Accompaniments: If you want to experiment, try adding a sliced apple, a handful of nuts, or some honey to your truffle cheese and crackers. These pairings can enhance the sweetness and nuttiness of the truffle cheese.

In conclusion, creating a truffle cheese and crackers spread is a wonderful way to showcase the unique flavour of truffle cheese. By choosing the right type of cheese, pairing it with neutral crackers, and adding complementary accompaniments, you can create a simple yet indulgent culinary experience that highlights the earthy, nutty, and aromatic qualities of truffle cheese.

Frequently asked questions