September is here and school is back in session, whether that means virtual, in-person, or a Frankenstein hybrid of Zoom, outdoors, and classroom. Whatever form school takes this year, it is likely to be accompanied with extra stress, and this calls for easy, nutritious, and delicious snacks and meals for everyone. If it just so happens to include the decadent flavor of truffle, aka fall’s fanciest fungus, then no one’s complaining (okay, depending on the age and level of pickiness, maybe the kids are…but it’s never too early or late to develop young palates!). Read on for some of Urbani Truffle’s favorite back-to-school truffle recipes to try this fall.
Picky eaters? These recipes are easy enough to make in their “OG” version and upgrade with aromatic truffle as a special treat to yourself.
Easy Truffle Recipes for Fall
New Take on Grilled Cheese
With a few creative ingredients, you can elevate the classic grilled cheese sandwich from a childhood favorite to a comforting, oh-so-satisfying main. A fancy sandwich for a quick lunch, Urbani Cream Cheese can be blended with the shredded cheese of your choice, then grilled between slices of French bread (we recommend buttering the slices first).
Pesto Pasta
For a fast weeknight meal that uses only two ingredients, Pesto Pasta is a definite go-to. It uses Urbani Truffle Pesto and refrigerated pasta to cut down on prep time so you can get your meal on the table fast with minimal cleanup (and really, what’s not to love about that!).
Pesto works for any shape of pasta, so take your pick from long and thin to short and compact. When cooking your pasta, always salt your water generously (wait until your water has come to a boil) and cook your pasta al denté so the noodles still have a good, “toothy” texture that hasn’t turned to mush. This is typically a minute less than what is written on the package. Toss a few fresh tomatoes on top once finished, and don’t forget that extra Parmigiano!
Zucchini Tots
Loaded with zucchini and carrots, these Zucchini Tots do not even taste healthy. They’re the perfect way to sneak in veggies, and just so good you might want to double the recipe. They are loaded with freshly grated zucchini, carrots, cheddar cheese, and Parmigiano, but you can easily swap out the cheddar for your favorite kind of cheese, or whatever is lying around in the cheese drawer that needs to be used up. Just be sure to wring out as much water as you can from the shredded zucchini – that’s the secret to getting these babies nice and crisp.
Where does the extra-special truffle come into play here? When ready to serve, all you need is a dollop of Urbani Truffle Ketchup. The pickiest of eaters don’t even have to know that these are loaded with veggies.
Wines to Pair with Truffle Recipes
If you make these recipes to enjoy for yourself, then you might be interested in elevating an already amazing meal with wine pairings. One of the most useful wine and food pairing tips out there is that Pinot Noir pairs well with just about everything. This red wine is light enough for white meats, pasta, and even fish like salmon, yet pairs well with richer, more complex dishes. Truffles offer up some of the most complex, many-layered flavors in food, so these little snacks go very well with a few sips of Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir from Burgundy
The earthy, mineral-driven flavors of an Old World Pinot Noir pair especially well with the zesty herbs in the Truffle Pesto Pasta. A standard-bearer of the region, pick up any Louis Jadot Burgundy and you’ll be satisfied. The Aurum Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Bourgogne are great places to start; or move on to their Côte d’Or Burgundies for a real treat, from Côte de Beaune-Villages to Gevrey-Chambertin or Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Pinot Noir from California
Pinot Noir from the New World is bolder and fruitier than those from the Old World, but Pinot being Pinot, remains more balanced than, say, a rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from the same areas. The Cakebread Cellars Two Creeks Pinot Noir gives you the best of both worlds: it’s a Burgundian-style Pinot Noir made in Napa Valley. Try it with the Truffled Grilled Cheese. For a juicy Californian choice, opt for St. Francis Sonoma County Pinot Noir, whose fruit is sourced from the cooler areas of Sonoma County to allow the grapes to develop deep flavors while retaining natural acidity. It will be the perfect match with the Zucchini Tots dipped in Truffle Ketchup.
This article was written with the help of our good friends at Urbani Truffle, fine truffle purveyors for six generations. Click here to shop Urbani.
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