Bushra Griffith
Truffle cheese is any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a type of culinary fungus that grows underground. The most popular truffle cheeses are made with black truffles, which are known for their earthy, nutty and salty flavours. However, white truffles are also used, particularly in aged gouda. The strong aroma and flavour of truffles mean that only a tiny amount is needed to make truffle cheese, and the type of cheese used can be made from any type of milk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is Truffle Cheese | Any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a culinary fungus that grows underground |
| Types of Truffle | White Truffle, Black Truffle |
| Flavor | Earthy, pungent, nutty, garlicky |
| Cheese Types | Cheddar, Pecorino, Gouda, Brie, Camembert, Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino, Sottocenere, Boschetto al Tartufo, Truffle Tremor, Grafton Truffle Cheddar, Truffle Gouda |
| Wine Pairing | Sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Champagne, Barolo, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Other Pairings | Bread, Breadsticks, Crackers, Pasta, Risotto, Savoury Pies, Meat, Olives, Eggs |
| Storage | Wrap Truffle Cheese in food wrapping paper or a clean cotton cloth |
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What You'll Learn
- Truffle cheese is made from any type of cheese flavoured with truffles, a type of fungus
- Black truffles are the most common, but white truffles are stronger in flavour
- Truffle cheese can be flavoured with truffle shavings, truffle oil, or both
- Truffle cheese is typically made with sheep's milk, but cow's milk can also be used
- Truffle cheese can be served simply, with bread or crackers, or grated over eggs, pasta, or pizza
Truffle cheese is made from any type of cheese flavoured with truffles, a type of fungus
There are many varieties of truffle cheese, including soft and hard cheeses. The soft varieties include Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino, a Sardinian sheep's milk cheese with black truffle paste injected into it, and Truffle Tremor, a goat's milk cheese from California with bits of black truffle. Semi-soft truffle cheeses include Sottocenere, an Italian cheese with specks of black truffles, and Boschetto al Tartufo, a blend of cow and sheep milk with shavings of white truffle. Hard truffle cheeses include Truffle and Salt Cheddar, Grafton Truffle Cheddar, and Truffle Gouda.
Truffle cheese can be enjoyed in many ways. It is often served on its own or with bread or breadsticks for a quick snack. It can also be grated over eggs, pizza, pasta, or even mac 'n' cheese. Truffle cheese can also be melted into a fondue or used in grilled cheese sandwiches and risotto. When serving truffle cheese, it is recommended to keep the presentation simple so that the truffle flavour can shine through. A glass of sparkling wine or pinot noir can enhance the pleasure of eating truffle cheese.
The process of farming truffles and harvesting them is challenging and labour-intensive, which contributes to their high cost. Truffle hunters, with their trained truffle-sniffing dogs, roam through hills and forests to find these prized fungi. Despite the challenges, the unique flavour and aroma of truffles have made them a lasting trend in the food world, and they continue to be a sought-after ingredient for chefs and food enthusiasts alike.
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Black truffles are the most common, but white truffles are stronger in flavour
Truffle cheese is any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a culinary fungus that grows underground. While black truffles are the most common type of truffle used in cheese, white truffles have a stronger flavour. Black truffles are described as having an earthy, nutty, and pungent flavour, while white truffles have a pungent garlicky smell accompanying their earthy flavour.
Black truffles are used in a variety of cheeses, including Italian cheeses like Sottocenere, a semi-soft cheese with specks of black truffles, and Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino, a Sardinian sheep's milk cheese with black truffle paste injected into it. Black truffles are also used in cheeses from other countries, such as Truffle Tremor, a goat's milk cheese from California, and Truffle Gouda, a Dutch cheese with flecks of black truffle.
White truffles, on the other hand, are less common but have a more intense flavour. They are harder for dogs to find as they grow deeper underground. White truffles are often used in milder cheeses, such as Boschetto al Tartufo, an Italian semi-soft cheese made from a blend of cow and sheep milk, where the white truffle shavings dominate the flavour. The robust profile of white truffles also pairs well with the nutty, buttery flavour of an aged Gouda.
While truffle cheese can be enjoyed on its own or with bread or breadsticks, it can also be grated or chopped and added to various dishes. Black truffles can be paired with robust, ripe black olives, while green olives are a better match for milder white truffles. Black truffles also pair well with rich, savoury meats like beef or duck, while white truffles enhance the flavour of chicken or turkey. Both types of truffles are commonly used in dishes like scrambled eggs, pasta, risotto, and grilled cheese sandwiches.
The distinct aroma and flavour of truffles, whether black or white, can elevate even the simplest of dishes. However, due to the high cost and labour-intensive harvesting process of truffles, truffle-flavoured cheese typically contains only a tiny amount of truffle. Nevertheless, the unique flavour and aroma of truffles are usually easy to detect and appreciate in these cheeses.
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Truffle cheese can be flavoured with truffle shavings, truffle oil, or both
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. Truffle cheese can be flavoured with truffle shavings, truffle oil, or both. Any style of cheese made from any type of milk can be flavoured with truffles.
Truffle cheese is often served simply, with bread or breadsticks, or as part of a charcuterie board. It can also be grated over eggs, pizza, or pasta, and even mac 'n' cheese. Truffle cheese can also be used in grilled cheese sandwiches, risotto, or melted into a fondue.
There are many varieties of truffle cheese, including Sottocenere, an Italian semi-soft cheese with a strong truffle aroma and milder truffle flavour. The aroma comes from a blend of nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon, liquorice, cloves, and fennel that has been rubbed into the rind. Another variety is Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino, a Sardinian sheep's milk cheese featuring the earthy, nutty, salty flavour of pecorino layered with black truffle paste. The truffles can be seen in dark lines throughout the cheese, which is made using raw sheep's milk.
Truffle Tremor is a pasteurised goat's milk cheese with a soft, fluffy texture, made by Cypress Grove in California. It is flecked with bits of black truffle. Truffle and Salt Cheddar is an aged, pasteurised cheddar made with black truffle salt and created by Ballard Family Dairy and Cheese in Idaho. Truffle Gouda is a Dutch Gouda flavoured with little flecks of black truffle.
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Truffle cheese is typically made with sheep's milk, but cow's milk can also be used
Truffle cheese is a type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a culinary fungus that grows underground and is highly prized for its earthy, pungent, nutty flavour. Truffle cheese is typically made with sheep's milk, but cow's milk can also be used. The process of farming truffles is challenging, and the high cost of truffles means that truffle-flavoured cheese is relatively affordable. Most truffle-flavoured cheeses contain only a tiny amount of truffle, but the flavour and aroma of truffles are usually easy to detect.
One example of truffle cheese made from sheep's milk is Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino, a Sardinian cheese featuring the earthy, nutty, salty flavour of pecorino layered with black truffle paste. The wheels of this cheese are aged for a few months to ensure the truffle permeates the entire product. Another example is Salumi Pasini's Truffle Cheese, a typical Italian truffle cheese characterised by a short ripening period of about 10 days, enriched with black truffle. This cheese has a soft but compact texture and a milky white colour, with tiny truffle pearls creating a special marbled effect.
An example of truffle cheese made from cow's milk is Black Truffle by Plymouth Artisan Cheese. This cheese is made with raw cow milk and is aged for sixty days, infused with real truffle morsels from Italy and touches of white truffle oil. The result is a mellow and approachable cheese that is earthy, straightforward, and smooth.
Truffle cheese can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. It can be served on its own or with bread, breadsticks, or crackers for a quick and tasty snack. It can also be grated or coarsely chopped and added to pasta, risottos, or savoury pies to enhance their flavour. When pairing truffle cheese with wine, it is generally recommended to incorporate the truffle into a dish that complements both the truffle and the wine. For example, a rich, buttery Chardonnay or effervescent Champagne can perfectly balance the potent aroma of a black truffle.
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Truffle cheese can be served simply, with bread or crackers, or grated over eggs, pasta, or pizza
Truffle cheese is any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a culinary fungus that grows underground. White truffles are harder to find as they grow deeper underground and are stronger in flavour with a pungent garlicky smell. They are also more expensive than black truffles. Most truffle-flavoured cheeses contain only a tiny amount of truffle, but the flavour and aroma are usually easy to detect.
When serving truffle cheese, it's best to keep the presentation simple so that the truffle flavour can be the star of the dish. Serve it with a sliced baguette, crackers, or breadsticks. Truffle cheese can also be grated or coarsely chopped and added to pasta, risottos, or savoury pies. It can also be melted into a fondue. For a quick snack, cut the cheese into pieces and add them to a charcuterie board with mixed cured meats such as pork bresaola, cured ham, or coppa di parma IGP.
Truffle cheese can also be served with eggs, a classic combination. Scrambled eggs or an omelette with truffle-infused olive oil or thin shavings of black truffle are perfect pairings. Truffle cheese can also be grated over pizza or mac 'n' cheese.
Truffles pair well with wine, but it's important to balance the potent aroma and flavour of the truffle with complementary ingredients. A rich, buttery Chardonnay or an effervescent Champagne can balance the aroma of a black truffle, while a full-bodied Barolo or Cabernet Sauvignon can stand up to the intense flavour of white truffles.
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Frequently asked questions
Truffle cheese is any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles, a type of culinary fungus that grows underground.
Truffles have an earthy, pungent, nutty flavour. Truffle cheese is often flavoured with truffle shavings, truffle oil, or both.
Black truffles are the most common type of truffle used in cheese, as they are more readily available than white truffles.
Examples of cheeses that use truffles include Sottocenere, Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino, Truffle Tremor, Truffle Gouda, and Truffle Cheddar.
Truffles are difficult to farm and the harvesting process is slow and labour-intensive, which drives up the cost.
