A few weeks ago, my husband and I set out to locate this small jar at our local Whole Foods. We had heard through the grapevine that it simply must be tried and would bring magic to any dish. After what seemed like an exhaustive search through keffias and sad, worn out Toms, we finally found it. Stashed away under the cheese counter. Can you guess what's in the jar above?
This small, 3.2 ounce jar contains intoxicating truffle salt. Forget truffle oil, forget real truffles (well unless you can afford them), just stick with the salt.
It felt like a decadent splurge as I've never paid $13 for such a small amount of salt before, but after two weeks of testing it out on practically everything we ate (seriously, any time you consume it, you forget how pungent and satisfying it is — even if it's just on a single almond), very little has diminished from the jar and it feels like a fantastic and budget-friendly purchase that has made a huge impact in our kitchen.
It's been applied to everything from pasta to vegetables, fruit to dessert and there's really just no way to describe it. It's truffle-y and hits your senses in a way that makes great dishes even better and ho-hum dishes rockstars on the table. No one paid me to say such things, and I trust that you'll thank me later when you locate it at a store near you. It's worth tracking down, or even ordering online.
• Buy It Here: Sabatino Tartufi or from your local Whole Foods market.
Related: Simple Appetizer: Bread with Butter and Truffle Salt
(Image: Sarah Rae Trover)
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I knew it!
I've had a small jar of truffle salt for probably two years now, and even though we use it fairly often, there's still a lot of salt in the jar and it's still fresh and delicious. It's one of my favorite ways to add some excitement to a lot of dishes. I eat a lot of poached eggs on toast and truffle salt is the perfect topping!
My favorite appetizer - radishes, a little swipe of really good butter, and a quick dip in the truffle salt. So good!
Years ago one of our Whole Foods was wily enough to set a jar of truffle salt out for sample and kept one out for at least a year or two. Pretty much everyone I know who goes to that Whole Foods has a jar in their pantry now. Including me.
Whoa, need to check this out on my next Whole Foods visit. Thanks.
We got a jar from Dean & DeLuca as a gift a few years ago and just love it!
Knew it.. but never tried it. I keep hearing about it via Tim Ferriss. Definitely will pick some up.
mlflamingo, I do the exact same thing! Sometimes I layer it all on good bread and call it lunch; so delicious.
I love it on buttered popcorn. So different and so indulgent!
I love truffle salt. I used them on scrambled eggs (and I use truffle oil too, so I get a double dose of flavor) - sooo good! http://www.confessionsofachocoholic.com/recipes/truffle-scrambled-eggs
Ha ha ha. My Whole Foods has this certain weird gouda and Rainforest Crisps and everyone I know always has both on hand.
@JudiAU -- I know, right?!?! Suckers for the sample bites.
Eeeeek! I hope this doesn't cause a run to my local W.F. store! I don't want them to be out before I get there. This sounds like a great addition to my restrictive diet. Finally, some oomph for my palate.
If 13 dollars seems like too much to spend on such a small jar, making truffle salt is a snap- assuming you can find truffles in your area. My class and I made some in culinary school for fun with some leftover truffle from another project. We barely used a teaspoon of dried and finely chopped black truffle and infused it with some kosher salt by letting it sit in a jar for a week or so. You eliminate the fake truffle flavor they add to the salt and it costs a fraction of the price. An ounce of dried truffle at my nearest specialty market cost around 20 bucks and makes a half pint jar full of salt, plus a bit left over for other ventures. I never have a hard time finding something to use truffles in. Never :D
mmmm.... truffle salt on popcorn! SO GOOD!
I have the same jar of truffle salt! Make sure you don't take too long too use it, mine already has no more flavor :(. Granted, it's been awhile, but you don't use a lot at a time, so it lasts forever. I like it on eggs too, and mac n cheese.
We sell this at world market.
Hah! I was just about to complain about not having Whole Foods where I live. We do have World Market though.
I love this stuff...we bought it early this summer and it lasts FOREVER...so amazing! Try it on popcorn too -- super yummy!
I've had truffle salt on fries and it really turned them into something special!
I love my truffle salt. I ordered mine online and found that different brands contain different percentages of truffles. My jar was certainly more expensive but worth it, I think. I store it in the fridge, which the package recommends. I liked the idea of salt versus oil because it seemed I could get a much longer shelf life out of it.
It's lovely here:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/02/cauliflower-and-caramelized-onion-tart/
Um, perfect holiday gifts?!
I was just thinking that it would make a great holiday gift!
It makes great holiday gifts and is so easy to make at home.
fourthing the popcorn idea, I pop my kernels in a pan of truffle oil (the cheap stuff), then sprinkle on the truffle salt. it is delicioussssss.
I knew what it was as soon as I saw it. It's legit.