Truffle, Broccoli & Asparagus Puree

Truffle broccoli asparagus puree makes a gourmet side dish you can make in advance that is perfect for spring and works as a food styling hero too!

A gourmet puree like this truffle broccoli asparagus puree serves several purposes on a plate of food. For food styling purposes, it is more decorative as you can create shapes with it, perhaps a smear upon which you place meat or other vegetables. Or delicate little piped dots or streaks.

A puree also works in a similar way to a sauce, bringing elements together as well as preventing a dish from being too dry. I love playing with texture when creating a dish, and adding a puree to a plate of delicately balanced food can really elevate it.

I also love adding the flavour of truffle to the recipe, with its rich umami tones and decadent connotations. It's a strong flavour, so don't overdo it or it can overpower everything else. But a hint of truffle in a dish really adds depth and makes it taste expensive.

“Truffle is the food for kings, gods and pigs.”

Antonio Carluccio, chef and restaurateur

We need to cook our broccoli and asparagus until they are al dente, or just cooked. Cooking them too much will result in a dull, green and tasteless slush where all the flavour and nutrients have been leached out into the water. The asparagus and broccoli should be a vibrant and vivid green colour and all the flavours in the truffle broccoli asparagus puree will really shine.

I frequently serve this truffle broccoli asparagus puree as an easy side dish with roast lamb when the asparagus season is upon us in Springtime. There's nothing quite like the flavour of fresh asparagus.

If you're a huge fan of asparagus recipes like me, try this asparagus mousse amuse bouche, a delicious asparagus and crispy prosciutto quiche or this asparagus and comte cheese tart

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions and Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top tip
• Truffle Broccoli Asparagus Puree

Ingredients

Here is what you will need to make a truffle broccoli asparagus puree.

Take care when buying truffle oil, an alarming number of products have zero truffle in them, only a fake flavouring. The real stuff might cost more, but you'll be paying for the quality of flavour that is priceless. As a general rule, white truffle is more expensive than black truffle. There are many different kinds of truffle and it can be quite the delicious rabbit hole to throw yourself down (read more here) but for the purposes of this blog post - buy good quality truffle oil that is made by infusing oil with actual truffles and not just flavouring.

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Truffle oil
• Cooking water
• Salt and pepper

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Hint: Rather than dumping all the broccoli or asparagus into the boiling water all at once, feed then in a handful at a time to stop the water temperature from dropping.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are a few ways you can change up this broccoli asparagus puree to suit you.

• Other vegetables - swap in some other green vegetables, just be sure to balance the flavours as brassica family veg (like broccoli) will have a stronger taste and can overpower others.
• Oils - don't like truffle? Use plain extra virgin olive oil.
• Spice - why not try using chilli garlic oil to give this recipe a kick?

Equipment

You will need the following equipment to make your puree.

• Large saucepan
• Large mixing bowl
• Liquidiser - I use this one!
• Chopping board and knife

I use Robert Welch knives and recommend the entire range, it's what I trained with at chef school.

Storage

Store any leftover truffle broccoli asparagus puree in an airtight container in the fridge. Good for 2-3 days.

You can also freeze this puree, use it within one month. If it is too watery when you defrost it, put it in a sieve over a bowl to allow the excess moisture to drain through.

Top tip

If you add too much water to this truffle broccoli asparagus puree by mistake, do not fear! Place it in a sieve over a bowl and the excess water will drain away.