Truffle mushroom Nutrition facts

Truffle mushrooms are round, knobby belowground fruiting bodies. They come in different colors and sizes, usually black, white, yellow, or brown. They can be smooth to warty in texture on their outer surface.

Truffle are the members in the Tuberaceae family of fungi; of the genus, Tuber.

Black perigord truffle mushrooms.
Photo courtesy: bluumwezi.

When truffles mature, they produce aromatic compounds that attract animals like dogs and small mammals. Truffle lives in a mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of some trees. This symbiotic association is called ectomycorrhizae. In this relationship, the fungi form a network with their hyphae around and in between the outermost layers of the root cells of the host tree.

Identification

Truffles are quite unique which separates them from other common fungi. Truffle has a rounded, below-the-earth fruiting body that can be lobed, with shallow to deep furrows and has yellowish, tan to dark brown skin. The interior is solid, white, marble-like in white species, and black in black species with narrow, white veins that tend to radiate from the base. Mature specimens possess a pungent, and rich aroma.

Several species of tuber (truffle) mushrooms are found naturally in the dense forests of the Northern Hemisphere, especially Italy, the Balkans, and France.

The black perigord (French black) truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is mainly found in the wooden forests of Southern Europe. They feature a mottling pattern with streaks of white veins. They are the most sought-after by chefs all over the world for their very aromatic flesh.

White truffles. Photo credit: bluumwezi

Other important black species are black summer truffle (T. aestivum) and Burgundy truffles (T. uncinatum) are also prized for their culinary values.

The white truffles (T. magnatum) are the largest truffles found in Northern Italy. White truffles are also highly accoladed by the chefs for their powerful fragrance likened to mold, garlic, and the smell of cheese.

Some other species include those found in the US such as Oregon black truffle (T. gibbosum), Oregon brown truffle are also noted for their culinary values. Pecan truffle (T. lyoni) is found in the southern part of the United States near pecan tree cultivation.

Health benefits of Truffle mushrooms

Truffle perhaps nutritionally unimportant mushrooms for they are used in very limited amounts as food.
Nonetheless, this flavorful forest mushroom adds distinctive sensory qualities to the food, and thus, contributes to the enrichment of its nutritional value.
Truffle's aroma comes from certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, sulfur compounds, and terpenes.
Some of the organic aromatic compounds are methy propanol, methyl butanal acetaldehyde, butanedione (buttery), and bis-(methylthio) methane (garlic-like) which give truffle .
Black truffles were described in traditional medicines to be an aphrodisiac.
Truffles also contain good amounts of easily digestible natural proteins.
They add some minerals and vitamins, albeit in minute quantities to the food.

Truffle harvesting

Truffles are grown in the wild close to oak, poplar, hazelnut, elm,pecans, and beech trees. Mature truffles develop odors and emit volatile organic compounds and pheromones that attract wild animals. Truffle hunters search for them from autumn to winter with the help of trained dogs in these wooded forests.

Some truffle enthusiasts may resort to the raking method to unearth prized truffles. However, this method can damage the mature truffles, inflicting cut injuries on them and decreasing their market value. Also, raking dislodges other unripe truffles from the support network with their host trees, thus ending their maturation process.

Selection and storage

Fresh truffles are usually sold in the areas from which they are harvested. Choose firm, fleshly truffles without bruises.

In the markets one can choose dried truffles in airtight containers. Other novelty products such as truffle flavored sugar, salt, truffle honey, truffle oil, etc can also be found in supermarkets. Truffles canned in water are also available in some stores.

Use them as soon as possible after the purchase. To store, place them in the fridge fresh for up to 1 week. Place cut truffles in an airtight container and cover them with Madeira or white wine. Canned truffles that are cut and covered with Madeira or a little oil for a month.

Preparation and serving methods

Truffle's rarity in nature makes them the most expensive items to use liberally in the dishes. Their usefulness counted just as gourmet food and to some extent as appetizers.

Do not wash truffles -rub them gently with a soft brush. Cut in slices, slivers, cubes, or shaving.

Here are some serving tips:

Tagliatelle, the classic Italian pasta. Photo credit: Curtis Foreman

Truffles employed raw, or cooked; in the form of essense, juice, funet (reduced stock), or concentrate.
They can flavor salads, stuffing, sauces, pasta dishes, rice and eggs.
Truffles slices embedded in game and poultry, especially the Charismas turkey. A few slivers are enough to flavor a whole dish.
Tagliatelle, the classic pasta of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, is a long, flat ribbons-like pasta seasoned/flavored with parmesan cheese and truffle sauce.

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