What do you use when you want to make dishes taste like they have truffles in them? Truffle oil! It’s the closest thing to the real deal, and it’s popular not just because of how it tastes but also because of its price tag. However, the cost of truffle oil adds up quickly, and it might be a little too expensive to use in all your recipes. That’s why there are so many truffle oil substitutes out there!
Check out these 10 best truffle oil substitutes that will help your food taste great and give it that special zing you crave!
How To Use Truffle Oil In Cooking?
Truffle oil is a great way to add some extra flavor and richness to dishes. There are lots of ways you can use it, from drizzling it over steaks or eggs in the morning, adding it as a finishing touch on mashed potatoes, as a seasoning for grilled meats and fish, or even using it as an ingredient in pasta sauces.
The sharp, earthy taste of truffle oil can also be used in sauces like mayonnaise or hollandaise.
And if you’re vegan or just trying to avoid carbs, you can use it as a substitute for butter when cooking veggies. In fact, there are many people who argue that mushrooms soaked in truffle oil are the best thing since sliced bread (or something like that).
The Best Truffle Oil Substitutes
1. Truffle Salt
Truffle salt is an excellent substitute for Truffle oil. There are a lot of recipes that call for the use of truffle oil, but if you don’t have any on hand or don’t want to buy it at the moment, then substituting with truffle salt is a perfect solution.
The salty and nutty notes in truffle salt make it a great substitute when you are cooking something that might need a little more depth than regular table salt will provide. And, because of the high concentration of flavor, the amount of truffle salt you need is much less than what would be needed for substituting regular table salt.
You can use this as a rub or seasoning on anything from vegetables and meats to pasta dishes and pizza toppings. It’s also really good with eggs, especially when they’re scrambled with some veggies thrown in there too!
So, if using it for seasoning purposes only, it is an excellent truffle oil alternative for those looking for a cheaper option without sacrificing on taste.
2. Extra virgin olive oil
Olive oil is a great substitute for Truffle oil in certain recipes, and it has a similar mild, slightly nutty flavor. For dishes where the milder flavor of the olive oil is desired, such as when used in salad dressings or mayonnaise, there are many quality extra-virgin oils available.
However, for dishes that require the more pungent aroma and flavor of truffle oils, such as pasta or pizza sauce, another truffle oil replacement is best.
You can also use garlic infused olive oils as a substitute for truffle oil. These are made by infusing olive oil with garlic cloves before using in cooking or as an ingredient in sauces or marinades. Garlic infused olive oils will have a strong garlic flavor so be careful not to overdo it!
3. Truffles
Truffles have an earthy smell and taste that makes them perfect for cooking dishes with heavy cream or butter. This is why many people use truffle oil as a substitute for this type of cuisine.
Truffles have a similar flavor to truffle oil but do not have the oily feel. This is why many cooks combine truffles with another cooking oil of their choosing to give the dish both the fat and the flavor they desire.
Truffles, on the other hand, are pricey and difficult to come by. The flavor is also much stronger than truffle oil, therefore you only need a sprinkle of this fungus to achieve the desired flavor in your dish.
To use truffles as truffle oil substitute you need one ounce of truffle., Cut the truffles into small pieces and then cook them in hot olive oil until the flavors are infused into the oil. The result is called truffled oil which is often used on pasta dishes like carbonara.
4. Porcini Mushroom Oil
Porcini mushroom oil has a very subtle earthy flavor and aroma, with notes of garlic and black pepper. A little goes a long way and it’s often cheaper than truffle oil. making it one of the best substitutes for Truffle oil.
It has a similar taste and texture as truffle oil, but it’s not as expensive or strong.
Porcini mushrooms are a type of mushroom with a very pungent, nutty flavor. They can be used as a substitute for Truffle oil in soups, sauces and risottos.
Porcini mushroom oil has a low smoke point so it shouldn’t be used for frying or cooking at high temperatures.
While the mushrooms are not grown for culinary use, the oil is an acceptable substitute if it can be found at your local grocery store.
5. Worcestershire sauce
Worcestershire sauce is a good substitute for Truffle oil because it has the same umami flavor and can be used as a flavoring agent in soups, sauces, and marinades.
You can replace Worcestershire sauce with Truffle oil substitute in most dishes.
Worcestershire sauce is a type of soy sauce that has been fermented and aged for up to several years. It was traditionally made in the English city of Worcester, but the condiment is now produced all over the world.
This pungent sauce can be used as a substitute for truffle oil in almost any recipe, though you might want to use less than you would use of truffle oil. It’s also worth noting that Worcestershire sauce does not taste like truffles and will not give your dish an identical flavor profile.
6. Mushroom pesto
One of the best substitutes for truffle oil is mushroom pesto. This sauce is made from mushrooms, garlic, walnuts, parmesan cheese and olive oil. It tastes delicious and works well as a substitute in any recipes that call for truffle oil. It can also be used as a topping on pizza or even pasta.
To get that earthy, truffle flavor in your dish, add a little bit of truffle salt. Make sure that you do not add too much because it will make your dish salty. It may not be the perfect substitute for a dish that requires the real thing, but it’s an option worth trying!
Mushroom pesto will be brown instead of black or dark brown like truffle oil. But if you’re looking for a way to cut down on costs and still get great tasting food, this is definitely worth trying out!
You can substitute 1 tablespoon truffle oil with 1 tablespoon pesto sauce made from mixed mushrooms, olive oil and salt.
7. Fish sauce
You can use fish sauce as a substitute for truffle oil, but it’s not the best choice. Fish sauce is a good option if you don’t have any other options and need something with a similar flavor. However, it doesn’t have the same rich, earthy taste that truffle oil has. This is because fish sauce is made from fermented anchovies and salt instead of black truffles.
Anchovies are usually used in Asian cooking like Pho and Rice dishes so if you’ve used this before, you’ll know what we are talking about.
Fish sauce can be substituted for truffle oil in most dishes that use truffle oil, such as pasta and risotto, but it should not be used if the dish contains tomato sauce or other acidic ingredients as this will cause the sauce to spoil.
In addition, it should not be stored at room temperature because of its fermentation process. Fish sauce is available at Asian grocery stores and online sources such as Amazon.
8. Avocado oil
Avocado oil is another great substitute for truffle oil. Avocado oil has a very mild, nutty flavor and a buttery texture that is well suited to the delicate flavors of many foods, especially chicken and seafood. It is often used in salad dressings and its earthy flavor is perfect for flavoring dishes like mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.
Avocado oil also has a high smoke point (520°F), which means it is safe for frying at high temperatures and can be used in many recipes that call for cooking with high heat. Plus, the fats in avocado oil are ideal for cooking at high temperatures without burning. It’s also rich in healthy monounsaturated fat, so its a healthy alternative to other oils.
It’s worth noting that the flavor is more neutral, so it won’t have the same taste as truffle oil.
9. Hemp oil
At first glance, this might seem like a bad idea because truffle oil brings an intense flavor that really cannot be substituted by hemp oil that brings a strong earthy aroma and flavor. However, if you’re using it to just add some sort of savory flavor and not looking for that intensely earthy taste then hemp is actually a very good option!
Hemp seed oil has a delicious nutty flavor and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help promote heart health. A small amount of this oil will add a nutty flavor to your dish and give it a nice sheen that mimics the look of truffle oil. Just make sure to use only cold pressed raw hemp oil, never heated or cooked as the heat will destroy all the nutrients in the plant oils including vitamins A, D and E.
10. Sunflower oil
In the kitchen, sunflower oil is a popular substitute for truffle oil. It’s inexpensive and has a mild taste that works well with many foods.
The taste of Sunflower oil is delicate and the light, nutty flavor pairs well with eggs, potatoes and other dishes that are already rich in flavor. You also can use it in a salad dressing or on toast. The texture of the oil is smooth and stays on your tongue longer than other oils or fats.
Sunflower oil has a high burning point, so if you are sautéing onions at medium heat, this would be a good choice. However, if you use this substitution for something like roasted vegetables that require higher temperature cooking, the result may not be as desired because sunflower oil will start to smoke before reaching its optimum temperature.
FAQs
What Does Truffle Oil Taste Like?
Truffle oil is a type of oil that has been infused with the flavor and aroma of truffles. It will provide an earthy, mushroomy, and somewhat pungent flavor to your dishes. It has a distinct truffle aroma that cannot be mistaken for anything else.
What Is Truffle Oil Made Of?
Truffle oil is made by combining truffles with olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil of high grade is infused with white or black truffles.
However, truffle oil with artificial substances such as dithiapentane combined with olive oil is also available. The dithiapentane can mimic the aroma of truffles, however it is not derived from these rare mushrooms.
Conclusion
Because truffle oil is both expensive and rare, these truffle oil alternatives may come in useful. Adjust your recipe to the substitution you chose for the best results.
In the end, it might be challenging to completely replicate the flavor and aroma of truffles, but these substitutes can unquestionably save your meal.
