Robert Linxe's Chocolate Truffles
- 11 ounces Valrhona chocolate (56% cacao)
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- Valrhona cocoa powder for dusting
- Finely chop 8 ounces of the chocolate and put in a bowl.
- Bring heavy cream to a boil in a small heavy saucepan.
- Make sure your pan is small, so you'll lose the least amount of cream to evaporation, and heavy, which will keep the cream from scorching.
- Linxe boils his cream three times he believes that makes the ganache last longer.
- If you do this, compensate for the extra evaporation by starting with a little more cream.
- Pour the cream over the chocolate, mashing any big pieces with a wooden spoon.
- Then stir with a whisk in concentric circles (don't beat or you'll incorporate air), starting in the center and working your way to the edge, until the ganache is smooth.
- Let stand at room temperature until thick enough to hold a shape, about 1 hour, then, using a pastry bag with a 3/8-inch opening or tip, pipe into mounds (about 3/4 inch high and 1 inch wide) on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- When piping, finish off each mound with a flick of the wrist to soften and angle the point tip.
- Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt 3 more ounces of the same Valrhona and smear some on a gloved hand.
- Gently rub each chilled truffle to coat lightly with chocolate.
- The secret to a delicate coating of chocolate is to roll each truffle in a smear of melted chocolate in your hand.
- Linxe always uses gloves.
- Toss the truffles in unsweetened Valrhona cocoa powder so they look like their namesakes, freshly dug from the earth.
- A fork is the best tool for tossing truffles in cacao.
- Shake truffles in a sieve to eliminate excess cacao.
- Store truffles in the refrigerator.
chocolate, heavy cream, cocoa powder
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/robert-linxes-chocolate-truffles-104655 (may not work)