Truffles are mushrooms highly appreciated in gastronomy.
The truffle is a type of mushroom that is characterized by its pleasant aroma and good flavor. Its classification indicates that it belongs to the genus Tuber , the family Tuberaceae and the division of ascomycetes .
Similar in appearance to a potato , truffles have a somewhat rounded but rather irregular appearance . Its external tone is dark, while its interior is whitish or grayish.
Truffle varieties
Although around thirty varieties of truffles have been recognized, not all of them are edible. Among the best known is the summer truffle ( Tuber aestivum ), with a nutty flavor . The black truffle ( Tuber melanosporum ), for its part, is characterized by a flavor that combines bitter and spicy notes. For example: “I'm going to order a chicken with green cream and black truffles” , “I've never tried truffles” , “They say that, in some European regions, truffles are very popular” .
Some truffles are true gems in gastronomy. The Italian white truffle ( Tuber magnatum ), for example, can reach a price of up to 6,000 euros per kilogram , making it an inaccessible delicacy.
A type of bonbon that contains chocolate, milk cream and other ingredients is known as a truffle.
Some properties
People often talk about the abundance of vitamins and minerals present in the truffle, a mushroom that has very attractive medicinal and nutritional properties. It is a very light food, with a moderate content of carbohydrates and fats, but generous in water .
Among the minerals found in the truffle we can mention phosphorus, selenium and potassium, three of which occupy a higher percentage of its composition, but it also has sulfur, calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese, although in a lower proportion. Like all mushrooms, truffles are rich in vitamins belonging to group B, mainly niacin and riboflabin.
Potassium is especially beneficial for maintaining the balance of our body's fluids, considerably reducing its retention. Phosphorus, for its part, is essential for the formation of teeth and bones, in addition to helping to combat stress and improve performance in activities such as studying, which require a high degree of concentration and reasoning.
Mushrooms are a nutritious food and although their protein content is not especially high, as is the case with cereals, nuts and legumes, it is at a level close to that of vegetables , especially when consumed after having been dehydrated.
The truffle as a bonbon
It should be noted that the notion of truffle is not only used to name these mushrooms. A truffle can also be a type of bonbon or sweet that combines chocolate, milk cream, lard or butter and other ingredients. Its name is given by the appearance of the truffles, similar to that of the aforementioned mushrooms: “My mother prepared truffles for dessert,” “Thank you for the box of truffles, they were delicious.”
The preparation of truffles is relatively simple. In principle, it is necessary to have the following ingredients:
* Agave syrup (also called Agave honey or Aguamiel);
* 100 grams of vegetable margarine (which can be prepared at home with olive oil);
* 100 grams of cocoa powder (it is important that it is not sugary);
* chocolate chips for final decoration.
You should begin by mixing the syrup with the cocoa powder and margarine, looking for a suitable consistency for molding the truffles. Once this is achieved, simply make small balls and pass them through the chocolate chips, to finally place them on a tray, with the option of using special paper capsules for truffles. After an hour in the refrigerator, all that remains is to enjoy this simple but irresistible dessert.