Truffles and possible substitutes
- Thread starter Tengu
- Start date
I am no kitchen chef. But so far I know they are relatively easy to get but just pretty expensive because there are no substitutes.
Food like that you don't search in supermarkets but need to get access to the people who are specialised to sell special food to good restaurants.
That are different and seperated ways. But if you like to buy truffles or other expensive food for your own kitchen you usually get it.
If you like to spend a few hundred pounds into some weird fungi, just call the best restaurants in your area and ask them who sells it. The stuff isn't so rare that they will make a secret about it.
Currently it's rather the opposite situation. Because most restaurants are closed due to the Corona crises, everybody in the restaurant business will be glad to help the friends who delivered to them and now got serious financial problems because most restaurants are closed.
I even guess, that currently truffles are relatively cheap due to that situation.
Food like that you don't search in supermarkets but need to get access to the people who are specialised to sell special food to good restaurants.
That are different and seperated ways. But if you like to buy truffles or other expensive food for your own kitchen you usually get it.
If you like to spend a few hundred pounds into some weird fungi, just call the best restaurants in your area and ask them who sells it. The stuff isn't so rare that they will make a secret about it.
Currently it's rather the opposite situation. Because most restaurants are closed due to the Corona crises, everybody in the restaurant business will be glad to help the friends who delivered to them and now got serious financial problems because most restaurants are closed.
I even guess, that currently truffles are relatively cheap due to that situation.
Is there a truffle substitute? Truffle is a fungi.
I've never had truffle.... too poor
Have you tried searching on Google for recipes?, and I did once see a you tube about truffle hunting in England, but it was years ago and can't remember the details. Try putting truffle hunting into you tube search. Might turn something up.
I have a feeling, though wouldn't stake a pound on it that it was in the new forest somewhere. So reasonably near to you geographicaly.
I've never had truffle.... too poor
Have you tried searching on Google for recipes?, and I did once see a you tube about truffle hunting in England, but it was years ago and can't remember the details. Try putting truffle hunting into you tube search. Might turn something up.
I have a feeling, though wouldn't stake a pound on it that it was in the new forest somewhere. So reasonably near to you geographicaly.
Hugh FW and the River Cottage programmes certainly did a few bits on truffle hunting, with a pig first then a dog later I think? He’s in Dorset so there are definitely some that way
An interesting job option for bushcrafters.
You can walk with your dog all day...
A pig I rather wouldn't drive around in such a Suzuki Jimny, by the way, and also don't want it in my tent. But perhaps that's just me.
You can walk with your dog all day...
A pig I rather wouldn't drive around in such a Suzuki Jimny, by the way, and also don't want it in my tent. But perhaps that's just me.
Was just about to say the river cottage thing.
I saw on something like countryfile a couple who were trying to grow them by planting there favourite substrate which was some species of tree, apparently they like the younger trees too compared to mature ones.
I saw on something like countryfile a couple who were trying to grow them by planting there favourite substrate which was some species of tree, apparently they like the younger trees too compared to mature ones.
Truffle oil recipe.
Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with white truffle oil.
Toast bread,
Make scrambled eggs using truffle oil to cook the eggs.
Top the bread with the eggs and top with slivers of sliced smoked salmon ,rocket leaves and a drizzle of truffle oil and a grind of freshly ground black pepper.
Another.
Stir into cream cheese sour cream chives and pepper dip.
Or
Use to make vinaigrette
Sorry they are all truffle oil recipes but thats all I have in my recipes book.
Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with white truffle oil.
Toast bread,
Make scrambled eggs using truffle oil to cook the eggs.
Top the bread with the eggs and top with slivers of sliced smoked salmon ,rocket leaves and a drizzle of truffle oil and a grind of freshly ground black pepper.
Another.
Stir into cream cheese sour cream chives and pepper dip.
Or
Use to make vinaigrette
Sorry they are all truffle oil recipes but thats all I have in my recipes book.
Beech woodland is where to find them. Some friends of mine planted some about 20 years ago and the woodland has changed so much in that time we’ve absolutely no idea where they are. The new Labrador is going to be trained using a bottle of a chemical that is the same smell as the truffles.
I have just discovered that you can substitute dried porchini mushrooms for truffles. Haven't tried it myself, but googling ....truffle substitute .... brought this up.
I hope that is helpful.
I hope that is helpful.
It's not the same.
Truffle is unmistakeably truffle.
It has an utterly 'that's it!' smell and taste.
There is a nationwide (well there are two organisations really) of fungal find and record groups.
Get hold of the Wiltshire one and tell them what you're doing, why you're looking for them, and see if one of their wandering recorder folks might help out.
They aren't into the forage for food/profit type thing, they are genuinely into recording, but some will happily forage with permission through the season too.
A quick google comes up with these....
www.cotswoldfungusgroup.com
www.wiltshirewildlife.org
www.dorsetfungusgroup.com
Truffle is unmistakeably truffle.
It has an utterly 'that's it!' smell and taste.
There is a nationwide (well there are two organisations really) of fungal find and record groups.
Get hold of the Wiltshire one and tell them what you're doing, why you're looking for them, and see if one of their wandering recorder folks might help out.
They aren't into the forage for food/profit type thing, they are genuinely into recording, but some will happily forage with permission through the season too.
A quick google comes up with these....
About Us
We are a thriving, well supported group of fungi enthusiasts covering East Gloucestershire and the Northern end of Wiltshire. We have one of the largest memberships of any fungi group in the UK. What We Do A fungi foray can be great fun, usually involving a good walk, a good chat, and a good
www.cotswoldfungusgroup.com
Search | Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Got a question about wildlife? Search our website to find the answer!
www.wiltshirewildlife.org
Links
www.dorsetfungusgroup.com
Yes Toddy, I know its not the same and won't give the authentic truffle taste. Absolutely.
I just mentioned what I had found on Google that some people use dried porchini as a substitute.
Tengu did ask if there were any known substitutes, and I just answered that part of the question.
It will definitely not taste exactly like truffle, as there is nothing else that does, which is why synthetic flavouring was developed years ago, and makes the "flavour" accessible to those who cannot afford the real thing. So, one could also use this synthetic flavouring as a substitute.
Nothing realy substitutes the real thing, as I said before.
I just mentioned what I had found on Google that some people use dried porchini as a substitute.
Tengu did ask if there were any known substitutes, and I just answered that part of the question.
It will definitely not taste exactly like truffle, as there is nothing else that does, which is why synthetic flavouring was developed years ago, and makes the "flavour" accessible to those who cannot afford the real thing. So, one could also use this synthetic flavouring as a substitute.
Nothing realy substitutes the real thing, as I said before.
All sound advice. Thank you.
I have looked online and both truffles and truffle oil are available, not cheap.
Our model village is not the fanciest of places.
(I know they are as advanced as the Mesolithic as they have domesticated the dog; but do not pick up after them).
Maybe chocolate truffles?
I have looked online and both truffles and truffle oil are available, not cheap.
Our model village is not the fanciest of places.
(I know they are as advanced as the Mesolithic as they have domesticated the dog; but do not pick up after them).
Maybe chocolate truffles?
If you're thinking Mesolithic, then mind that animals who feed on truffles take on some of the taste in their meat. Boar for instance. I doubt they artfully shaved them in some haute cuisine artfully presented dish.
Just tasty food in season.
If the truffles are known to have been found in fair quantity in your area then there's little reason that they're not still there.
If there is no way to source them, and buying them is too expensive, then WG's suggestion of the synthetic might do. I know there's no other edible mushroom that really compares.
Just tasty food in season.
If the truffles are known to have been found in fair quantity in your area then there's little reason that they're not still there.
If there is no way to source them, and buying them is too expensive, then WG's suggestion of the synthetic might do. I know there's no other edible mushroom that really compares.
Oh Tengu! Chocolate truffles.!
I don't think chocolate is a local produce sadly, and there are no mushrooms of any sort in them, though, if you are going to make some I will gladly taste test them for you,.... but I warn you, there may be very few left as I'm a rigorous chocolate tester!
I don't think chocolate is a local produce sadly, and there are no mushrooms of any sort in them, though, if you are going to make some I will gladly taste test them for you,.... but I warn you, there may be very few left as I'm a rigorous chocolate tester!
I have not been introduced to the locals yet but I suspect they are of the cultural culinary level of the people who used to go to the Chinese Buffet and eat up all the chips, and put tomato sauce on everything else.
(How I miss the Chinese Buffet...)
However our research into local food reminds us that the 10 min stop on the the railway at Swindon to change trains was a useful opportunity for Railway food; Brunel himself denied saying the coffee was inferior, instead he had called it `Bad roasted corn`...
I suspect that this aspect of Swindonian food is one we might not wish to investigate. (Given that today the place is known for Business lunches; cheap and nasty food at big prices on the company tab.)
And I am doing an I-Spy trail so people can explore the area? Do I include evidence of dogs?? I want people to admire the interesting architectural features; not have to wipe their feet.
(How I miss the Chinese Buffet...)
However our research into local food reminds us that the 10 min stop on the the railway at Swindon to change trains was a useful opportunity for Railway food; Brunel himself denied saying the coffee was inferior, instead he had called it `Bad roasted corn`...
I suspect that this aspect of Swindonian food is one we might not wish to investigate. (Given that today the place is known for Business lunches; cheap and nasty food at big prices on the company tab.)
And I am doing an I-Spy trail so people can explore the area? Do I include evidence of dogs?? I want people to admire the interesting architectural features; not have to wipe their feet.
That's just First class.
They cut the crusts of with a rusty knife leaving a brown line.
The Third class get the same but with the crusts left on and sooty thumbprints added.
They cut the crusts of with a rusty knife leaving a brown line.
The Third class get the same but with the crusts left on and sooty thumbprints added.
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