Truffle Burger’s – Veggie DIY Kit

Cheeseburgers and truffles tend to live at opposite ends of the epicurean spectrum, so when we learned that Truffle Burger had DIY kits we had to try.   I like truffles, in moderation.  Having your server bring a little scale to the table as they shave into your pasta is a treat everyone should get to try.  Just the right amount adds such incredible flavour, but too much and it becomes pungent.  Read on to see how truffles and cheeseburgers got on together in a triple header review.

What we have in store

Toggle

The Bun: 17/20

We found the buns a little heavy when we first opened the package.  They are simple large, white bun with no seeds and the consistency of a dinner roll.  However, once buttered and fried as the instructions called for they really came to life.  Great flavour and were a light lighter in texture, but still held up to the juices and condiments without disintegrating. 

The Toppings:  8/10

The only topping is a generous portion of their crispy shallots.  I thought they were really good with no greasy feeling at all, although I must admit that I would have had no idea they were shallots and not onions.   Added a nice crunch to the final product.

The Condiments: 6/10

A rather unique pairing here with fig jam and truffle mayonnaise. I love figs, tamarinds and dates so I was very excited to try this, although I wasn’t sure how it would go on a burger. On its own it was a lovely smooth jam that had a great balance between sweet and tartness.  I had some with crackers and cheese and it was fantastic so was excited to see how it balanced the meat in the final product. The truffle mayo had mixed opinions.  In small doses I think everyone liked it, but the general opinion was the truffle flavour was just too overpowering.  Instead of a subtle taste you pick up gently as you chew, it was more of a sledgehammer that hit your olfactory nerve the second the mayo bag was cut open.  If you love truffles this might work for you though.  

The Cheese: 8/20

The kit came with thin, dry slices of raclette cheese.  It comes where in between brie and swiss on the taste scale and I have had it before in Switzerland where it is famed for its creamy texture when melted.  I am not sure if it was the portion size, or the packaging (folded into wax paper) but it did not melt the way I expected and the flavour was absolutely lost in the final product with truffles, onions, meat and fig jam all blowing it away. 

The Patty: 10/20  

Weirdly, to order the beef and bacon burgers from Truffle, we had to also order the veggie burgers (two of each).  We want to find a veggie burger that tastes like beef but this is not one.  Part of the problem was the packaging.  The two 114g (4 oz) patties came pre-formed but stuffed into a small aluminium container that had been crushed in transit and popped open.  To be blunt it looked and smelled like cat food and was a little slimy.  The good news is the patties were much, much better once cooked.  I did not get the impression I was eating meat to be clear, nor did it taste like beans, mushrooms, or peas.  Hard to describe the flavour, like a slightly bland burger with a slightly crumbly texture.  The other flavours in this burger are so strong that this gets lost a little too.  

The Taste: 11/20

I found the overall combination of flavours to be just too strong and out of balance.  The bun was excellent here, truffle mayo overpowering, onions good, cheese weak, the veggie patty was a little dull and lost, and the fig jam valiantly tried to cut through with a hint of sweetness to balance out the savoury and saltiness of other flavours.  I think a good cheeseburger should work towards being one harmonious flavour and this one was more of a battle in your mouth. Veggie Burgers may not be my thing but we also tried a veggie Burger from Honest Burgers too, you can read the review here

Our Verdict: 60/100

If you are a fan of exotic flavours, then this is worth a go, especially if truffles are one of those flavours… and you don’t eat meat of course. It does need better cheese, as that might cut the truffle flavour and bring out more of the fig jam flavour. If you are new to being vegetarian there are enough other flavours here to compensate as well.

You can grab a Truffle DIY here