White truffles are both rare and expensive, so chefs and home cooks who relish their mysterious earthiness often turn to truffle oil to impart dishes with the flavor and aroma they desire. Picking a good oil is tricky, however - small bottles can command a high price, but unfortunately spending a lot is no guarantee you'll get a high quality truffle oil. In fact, most truffle oils are synthetically flavored, with chemicals such as 2,4-dithiapentane, a lab-synthesized replication of just one of the hundreds of aromatic compounds that give truffles their elusive flavor and aroma. For some, that's good enough reason to avoid truffle oil altogether. But if you already enjoy truffle oil, or are curious and want to try it, here are some buying sources and tips for using it:
Tips for Buying and Using White Truffle Oil:
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If the label lists " truffle aroma," "essence," "flavor," or something similar, odds are very good that the oil is synthetically flavored. Bits of dried truffle in these bottles are likely for show, not to impart flavor. Be aware that synthetically flavored oils lack the nuance of real fresh truffles. That's not to say you won't enjoy them, but if you've tasted the real thing, you may find them disappointing.
- Some maintain that extra virgin olive oil is too strongly flavored to make a good truffle oil. Some manufacturers do use a robust oil to mask the synthetic aromas they employ. But remember that extra virgin olive oils can have tremendous flavor variations; a mild extra virgin olive oil can actually work well as a truffle oil base.
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Use white truffle oil very sparingly. A liberal pour can very easily overwhelm a dish, especially if your oil contains artificial aroma.
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Save truffle oil for finishing dishes - the aromatic compounds are too delicate to withstand cooking.
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For optimal flavor, drizzle truffle oil over dishes that contain fat, such as olive oil, cheese, or cream.
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Keep truffle oil tightly sealed, and store in a cool, dry, dark place to prevent degradation of flavor.
- Ultimately, it's your palate and nose that count when evaluating whether a truffle oil is lousy or delicious. It can take a few experimental purchases before you find one you enjoy. In the case of white truffle oil, that can be an expensive prospect, but if you're up for the search, it may prove culinarily rewarding.
Where to Buy White Truffle Oil:
TartuLanghe Extra Virgin Olive Oil With White Truffle Umbrian olive oil, white Alba truffle, and aroma. Product of Italy. Buy online at avantisavoia.com. Price: $38.50/100 ml (3.4 ounces)
D'Artagnan White Truffle Oil Pure first-pressed French olive oil, Italian white truffle essence. Made in France. Buy online at dartangnan.com. Price: $22.99/8ounces.
da Rosario Organic White Truffle Flavored Olive Oil Developed by Rosario Safina, former president of Urbani USA and author of Truffles: Ultimate Luxury, Everyday Pleasure. Made with mild organic extra virgin olive oil, organic Italian white truffles, and natural organic Italian white truffle flavor. Certified USDA Organic. Buy online at The Frenchy Bee. Price: $13.99/1.76 ounces; $32.99/8 ounces.
Oregon White Truffle Oil The first U.S. produced, all-natural, chemical-free truffle oil. Made from wild Oregon truffles and blended light olive oil. Created by Jack Czarnecki, proprietor of The Joel Palmer House and author of the James Beard Award-winning A Cook's Book of Mushrooms. Buy online at oregontruffleoil.com. Price: $30/5ounces.
Serving Suggestions:
Try white truffle oil drizzled over eggs, popcorn, creamy cheeses, pasta, salads, or mushroom dishes. Use to finish polenta or risotto, or as a dipping oil for warm, crusty bread.