Chocolate Truffles

August 31, 2020mayurisjikoni

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EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP

THEME: #262 BITTER BUT GOOD

RECIPE: CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE

What is a Chocolate Truffle?

In reality, truffle is an edible but very expensive fungi. Just a few shavings used in a dish elevates the overall flavour and taste. However, today my recipe has nothing to do with that truffle.

Specifically, Chocolate Truffles are bite sized chocolate treats or confectionery. Actually, made from ganache which is simply a mixture of melted chocolate and warmed cream.

This Week’s Theme on FoodieMonday/Bloghop Group:

This week, the group theme is Bitter but Good. Actually, Sasmita who blogs at First Timer Cook, suggested that we use any food that is naturally bitter.

Naturally Bitter Foods

By the way, when I think of bitter food, bitter gourd pops up in my mind. In fact it is widely used in the Indian Cuisine. The next bitter food is fenugreek seeds. Generally, my choice of ingredient would have been bitter gourd (hubby loves it and I hate it!). However, I didn’t get any bitter gourd. So had to check what else I could use that is naturally bitter. Also, Arugula or Rocket and Kale were not available this week – am sure next week they will be plenty on the green grocer’s shelf. Using fenugreek in abundance would mean a pickle recipe which neither of us are fans of. Eventually, landed on my next choice, cocoa and dark chocolate.

Some Recipes Using Bitter Ingredients

Bitter Gourd/Karela

Karela nu Shaak – Gujarati style dry preparation with nuts, raisins and poppy seeds.
Sasmita loves to make Sweet and Sour Bitter Gourd Curry
Sujata’s Crispy Bitter Gourd and Potato is usually served with rice or roti.
Poonam makes a Bitter Gourd Podi or spice mixture which is usually served with idli, dosa or adai.

Arugula/ Rucola/ Rocket Leaves

Cherry Tomato and Avocado Salad with Arugula

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate Medallions

Kale

Using fresh kale to make a scrumptious sandwich is the best way to enjoy it. Try Renu’s Kale Broccoli and Paneer Sandwich.
Mireille makes a delightful and comforting Kale Chickpea Soup.

Fenugreek Seeds

Priya VJ makes a mouth watering Vendhaya Kuzhambu. Its a fenugreek flavored Tamarind Gravy.
Try Preethi’s Menthe Gojju or Fenugreek Curry which is served usually during summer.
A unique pickle recipe by Kalyani where she has used sprouted fenugreek seeds – Fenugreek Sprout Pickle.

Eggplant/ Aubergine

Sichuan Eggplant Recipe, a dish prepared by Archana, is a different way to enjoy this bitter vegetable.
You’ve got to check out Priya’s Arachuvitta Vattalkoazhamburecipe. Its all about a unique berry called Black Nightshade which is slightly bitter.
Roasted Eggplant Dip

Lemon and Orange Peel

How Chocolate is made?

In short, Cacao seeds or cocoa seeds are roasted and ground . Incidentally, cacao seeds are naturally very bitter and must be fermented to develop a flavour. After fermentation the beans are dried, sorted and roasted. Thereafter, the shells are broken to get cacao nibs. The cacao nibs contain 50% cocoa butter and 50% cocoa solids. These are ground to make cocoa mass or chocolate liquor. This liquid is heated and pressed. Then follows the blending stage. At this stage the cocoa mass is mixed with sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, sugar and flavors . This stage determines how the chocolate will turn out. This mixture is placed in a conche which is a container with metal beads. Slowly, the cocoa mass is conched until it becomes smooth. Next, the smooth mass is subjected to tempering, that means heating it and cooling it at intervals. Finally, its molded in the desire shape.

Bitterness of Chocolate and Cocoa Powder

As I mentioned above, the cocoa mass is naturally bitter. As a matter of fact, sweetness or bitterness of the chocolate is determined by how much sugar and milk powder is added during the blending. That is why the higher the percentage, the more cocoa mass it contains and therefore less sweeter. For example a 50% bar will be more sweeter than a 70%. Generally, the cocoa produced from drying the chocolate liquor and its not sweet. Sweetened cocoa or what e know as drinking chocolate contains sugar.

Ingredients required for Chocolate Truffles

Dark Chocolate – I’ve used 70% dark chocolate and sometimes used 60%, depending on what I get.
Milk Chocolate – I add a bit of the milk chocolate so that the truffles do not taste too bitter.
Whipping Cream – can use either whipping or double cream
Vanilla extract – for flavour
For Coating – unsweetened cocoa powder. Can use chocolate or colored sprinkles, chopped nuts or coat the truffles with melted chocolate. Today, bearing in mind the theme, I’ve decided to use only cocoa.
Fresh Pomegranate Arils – I love the combination of pomegranate and chocolate so stuffed the truffles with the arils. You can make plain truffles or stuff them with nuts, dried fruits or dried berries.

Dietary Tips:

Gluten free
Vegetarian