Crustaceans at a Glance
Falstaff reveals all that is worth knowing about these tasty sea creatures from lobster and crab to...
What You Should Know about Truffles
Five facts and the best tips for serving this exclusive tuber.
- Unlike black truffles, white truffles are best eaten raw. They are wonderful finely shaved over simple rice, pasta, egg or potato dishes with a truffle slicer, mandoline or simply a sharp knife.
- Black truffles show their full potential when warm. Like white truffles, they can be shaved raw over simple hot dishes, but black truffle shavings are also delicous stirred into wine- or cream-based sauces, or tucked under the skin of chicken, turkey or grouse ahead of roasting.
- How can I recognise good quality? A good truffle should be firm and should not have any maggot holes or soil adhesions. A truffle, no matter what kind, should never be rotten or woody and it should not smell musty.
- How do you store truffles? Truffles should be eaten as fresh as possible. You can store them in an air-tight plastic container wrapped in some paper for a short time in the fridge.
Although some people advocate storing them in rice, this is best avoided, unless for 24 hours, as the rice extracts too much moisture. However, stored for just a day, the truffle will flavour your rice and make a mouth-watering risotto.
- How do you protect yourself against fakes? The best way is to buy from retailers you trust or have known for years and remember the golden rule; if it is too good to be true, it probably is.
