11 Ways Truffle Oil Can Class Up Just About Anything
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We’re always looking for tricks and hacks that’ll make our cooking that much better without making a huge production. Truffle oil is one of those ingredients that can take any dish and make it classier and taste better, just by existing. High-quality olive oil is either infused with white or black truffles to give it an earthy mushroom essence.
Before truffle oil was commercially introduced back in the 1980s, chefs in France and Italy would make their own by steeping little pieces of fresh truffles in the purest olive oil. Some people even think truffle oil is an aphrodisiac, so take note, people. If you’re making a simple pasta dish, add a few drops of truffle oil and all of a sudden your meal is basically gourmet. An average bottle of the good stuff will run you about $20, but it’s worth it and it’ll last you a while. Here are 11 ways to elevate your favorite foods.
1. Garlic Truffle Fries
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Truffle fries are addicting, that’s a fact. When you’re out with friends at a restaurant and someone’s like “who wants to split truffle fries,” it’s pretty much a guarantee everyone says yes. It’s easy to make your own garlic truffle fries at home. Cut up around 3 to 4 Russet potatoes into fries. Drizzle some truffle oil on top and bake them in the oven for around 35 to 40 minutes until they’re golden brown. Toss them with garlic, parsley and some parmesan cheese. DONE.
2. Bruschetta
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If you’re looking for an easy appetizer for a dinner party, bruschetta with a drizzle of truffle oil will do the trick. You could make a classic recipe with Roma tomatoes, garlic, basil, balsamic, truffle oil, salt and pepper, on a French baguette. You could also go a less traditional route and do something like this white bean bruschetta with white truffle oil by the Food Network with crushed white beans, garlic, bay leaves, scallions and parsley. Or you could make use of your sourdough bread with this recipe by Foolproof Living that combines mozzarella, gorgonzola, walnuts, arugula, garlic and truffle oil on slices of sourdough.
3. Mac And Cheese
Whether you’re making mac and cheese from scratch or the boxed kind, truffle oil can help you out. If you’re going the box route, go for Annie’s white cheddar and “doctor it up” with truffle oil and fresh black pepper. For those making mac and cheese from scratch, elbow macaroni is a good choice. Make a sauce with sweet paprika, milk, butter, half-and-half, Gruyère cheese, white cheddar, fresh chives, black pepper and kosher salt. Mac and cheese and truffle oil go together like PB&J.
4. Eggs
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Your scrambled eggs just got an upgrade. Whisk a bunch of eggs with milk, melt a tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat and add in the egg mixture. Continuously stir the eggs until they’re cooked, but still soft, around 4 or 5 minutes. Drizzle a little bit of black truffle oil on top during the process. You could also add a little goat cheese and some chives if you want to get extra fancy.
5. Pizza
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We’re not saying that you should add truffle oil to just any pizza. A buffalo chicken or Hawaiin pie can stay out of dodge, but any white pizza will taste infinitely better with a drizzle of truffle oil. A wild mushroom pizza is the best choice for the job with sliced mushrooms (shiitake, cremini or portobello), some fontina and parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, sea salt and truffle oil.
6. Rice And Risotto
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Even if you don’t have the time or patience to make risotto, you can still jazz up your rice with truffle oil. This recipe by Food & Wine cooks brown rice in a sauce made of shallots, butter, vegetable stock, kosher salt and black pepper, and tops it with fresh chives and white truffle oil. Brown rice is cheap and you may already have a bag of it lying around your kitchen.
7. Grilled Cheese
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Grilled cheese plays a big role in a lot of people’s lives since it’s cheap, easy and comforting. Next time you’re craving a cheesy sandwich, grab a bottle of truffle oil and head to the stove. Swiss, Havarti, Fontina and Brie are top contenders here.
8. Hummus
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Hummus is healthy and we don’t have to feel weird about eating massive amounts of it. Whether you make your own or buy a tub of it at the store, truffle oil can class it up. Put the hummus in a food processor with your desired amount of the oil and give it a good pulse or two so the truffle essence can get fully incorporated. Serve the dip with pita bread, baked pita chips or veggies. You can also roast chickpeas on their own with truffle oil for a side dish.
9. Popcorn
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Make easy stovetop popcorn and mix it up with a few drizzles of white truffle oil, dried parsley, parmesan cheese and sea salt. Smuggle in a bag of this stuff into the movie theater and guaranteed, you’ll make some new friends.
10. Mashed Potatoes
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Mashed potatoes are perfect with just a little butter and salt, but why not take it to the next level? When it’s time to mash, add in half-and-half, butter, sauteed garlic, truffle oil, herbs, sea salt and pepper until the potatoes reach a velvety smooth consistency. You’ll be winning at the office potluck, that’s for sure.
11. Roasted Veggies
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Roast some Brussels sprouts, cauliflower or potatoes with parmesan cheese and truffle oil. You could also do root vegetables with thyme and truffle oil. Buy a bag of Brussels sprouts for 99 cents from Trader Joe’s and you’ll have yourself a gourmet side dish for less than $5.
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