If you happen to have access to a fresh black truffle, this simple black truffle pasta is a perfect way to showcase an exceptional ingredient. This is a perfect recipe for a fancy dinner at home.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Fancy Food, Pasta, Truffles
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 10 minutesminutes
Total Time 30 minutesminutes
Ingredients
½ozfresh black truffle
3 ozEuropean-style butter
1lbfresh fettucine pastasee notes
2ozheavy cream
⅓cuppecorino cheesegrated
salt & white pepper to taste
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt it heavily.
Shave 1/4 ounce of truffle into paper thin slices. A mandolin works well here if you don't have a truffle shaver.
Heat a medium high-sided skillet over medium high heat. Add the butter to the pan and allow to melt and then toast until just golden brown. Remove from heat to stop the browning.
Use a microplane grater to grate the rest of your truffle (another 1/4 ounce) into the browned butter. Then put the pan back on very low heat. Once you see light bubbles pull from the heat again. Let the truffle steep in the butter.
Cook the fresh pasta in the boiling water for 90 second to 2 minutes, until al dente (soft but with a tiny bit of chew.)
Put your butter skillet back on very low heat. Add the pasta straight from the pot bringing along a some of the pasta water. Stir the pasta into the butter in a swirling motion. Slowly add the cream while swirling the pasta. And then add the cheese. Once the pasta sauce is smooth and emulsified. Remove from the heat.Taste. Add salt and white pepper as needed. Sprinkle each dish with shaved truffle slices.
Notes
This will serve 4 smaller portions or 2 large portions—probably too large but you're not going to mind.
I used Kerrygold butter which is both delicious and well-named.
I made my own fresh pasta using the recipe and tutorial at Serious Eats. It was relatively easy to to do. If you don't want to make your own, find a high quality fresh pasta for this recipe.
I highly recommend the Seattle Caviar company for your truffle. Mine friend sent my truffle from this shop. I also had the opportunity to visit in 2019 for a caviar tasting and they're very nice there!