Summer Truffle Peelings

While there have been attempts to cultivate and farm truffles, nature is still the most reliable source. A truffle is an irregular, round-shaped fruiting body of fungi, which grows underground in a symbiotic and mysterious relationship with the roots of trees. On average, truffles vary in size from a walnut to a golf ball, but there are sometimes exceptional truffles that can weigh a pound or more.

Most commonly, truffles are found in France, Italy and Spain, but are also found in other countries. Because of their rarity (it takes years for a truffle to develop) and the trouble it takes to find them, truffles are expensive.

Truffle hunters seek them at night to avoid being followed by competitors who might discover the best collection sites. Although truffle hogs were used to locate the aromatic fungi historically, dogs are the more common modern hunting companion because they can be trained not to eat the truffles once they find them.

Our truffle peelings are steeped in truffle juice to preserve them, and impart a lovely truffle essence to anything they touch. Be sure to save and use the juice in a sauce or dressing, or stirred into whatever you make with the peelings.

Try these truffle peelings tossed with pasta, eggs or cheese dishes, or use them to finish creamy sauces. They are especially useful in recipes like mac ‘n’ cheese, whipped potatoes, ravioli or risotto. Try them on top of canapés, paired with other mushrooms and as an accent to anything with truffle butter in it. Enhance the flavor of simply-seasoned grilled steaks by finishing them with a pat of butter topped with some summer truffle peelings.

truffles (Tuber aestivum), truffle juice, salt