What Is Truffle Butter, Actually?

If you’ve ever been out to a steakhouse, you know that decadence is the name of the game. Big portions, heavy flavors, and large slabs of meat covered in…what’s that stuff? It’s truffle butter, the rich, creamy, truffle-ized butter that brings its distinct taste to anything you spread it on. But what is truffle butter, actually? Let’s talk about it. 

What is truffle butter?

Truffle butter is a compound butter that’s mixed with either truffle oil, truffle pieces, or, if you’re really lucky, both! It’s a more affordable way to get the pleasing notes of truffle taste without the high price of buying a whole truffle or the hassle of raising a truffle pig, hunting for truffles, and digging them up! 

What is in truffle butter?

Though it may seem a bit obvious, true truffle butter’s ingredients can be broken down into exactly those two ingredients: truffles and butter. That said, truffle butter can also include chopped mushrooms, truffle “flavor,” olive oil, and salt. And some stuff will even be seasoned with onion powder and/ or garlic powder. Generally speaking, the more expensive the truffle butter is, the more likely it’s made with just truffle pieces and butter. If it’s dirt cheap, you’re probably looking at mushrooms and natural truffle flavoring. 

What does truffle butter taste like?

Truffle butter has an extremely rich, umami flavor—mixed with the flavor of creamy butter. It is distinctly “of the earth,” so to speak, which makes sense since truffles are found in the ground! 

How do you make truffle butter?

If you want to make your own truffle butter, simply melt your favorite butter and mix in either truffle oil or minced truffles if you’re a lucky person who has such things. Then let it cool. Once it solidifies again, the now flavored butter is ready to use or freeze for later use. 

How to use truffle butter?

Truffle butter is often used to top steaks. But truffle butter can be added to any number of dishes for a decadent, savory boost: mashed potatoes, pasta, risotto, or even eggs are a great vehicle for truffle butter. In general, it’s best ot use truffle butter as a finishing butter, rather than a cooking butter. 

Truffle butter is a flavorful compound butter to keep at the ready for when you want that truffle taste without paying truffle prices (or purchasing a prize pig to help you sniff them out deep in the forest). Move over peanut, there’s a new butter in town!


About the Author

Joe Rumrill

Joe Rumrill is a fictional one-eyed spinach-loving sailor created in 1929 by E.C Se- Wait, no, that's not right... Joe Rumrill is a stand up comedian and writer currently based in Los Angeles. His favorite thing about food is a close tie between the taste and the nutrients one gets from it. His least favorite thing about it is the "gritty, dirt-like quality some food has", but he's most likely referring to the time in third grade he was dared to eat playground sand.

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