Chocolate Raspberry Balsamic Truffles

If you haven’t tried making traditional chocolate truffles, you may be surprised at how easy they are to make.  Essentially you make a simple 'ganache' of melted chocolate and heated cream, which is then cooled.  Just by doing that, you can tell everyone you can make a 'ganache'!  The cooled filling is then formed into small balls, and coated with cocoa powder.  Truly, something this decadent doesn’t get any more effortless than this!

The twist for these truffles is the use of balsamic vinegar, which adds a punch of intense flavor.  Using the raspberry balsamic adds a back note of the berry flavor to the dark chocolate.  We chose the raspberry balsamic, but our Pastamoré Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar or our Pastamoré Dark Sweet Cherry would work just as well.

Shelf life (in this house):  About 5 minutes...

• 8 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (we recommend Valrhona)
• 1/4 cup cream
• 2 teaspoons Pastamoré Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder

Melt the chocolate and cream in a double boiler over hot but not simmering water.  Place melted chocolate in a small bowl.  Stir in the Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar.  Cool the chocolate in the refrigerator for one hour. Remove from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 2 hours, until firm but moldable.

Use a teaspoon to scoop out chocolate. Use your fingertips to shape into balls about the size of a large cherry.  Set the chocolate balls on a parchment-lined tray.

Place the cocoa powder in a small shallow dish. Place 6 truffles at a time in the cocoa powder and roll the truffles around to coat, and return the coated truffles to the baking sheet. Continue with the remaining truffles. Place the truffles on a serving dish or store in an airtight package.

Makes about 36 truffles

Grilled Flat Iron Steaks with Spicy Chocolate Rub

It may be unusual to think of dark chocolate used in savory dishes, but here is an example where chocolate paired with chilies transcend the flavor of beef.  This is simply a take on a traditional Mexican mole.  Here we marinate a steak in our dark chocolate balsamic vinegar.  I apply a rub made with brown sugar, chili powder and allspice.  The steaks are cooked to medium rare on the grill, sliced thin, and finished with a quick drizzle of the dark chocolate balsamic vinegar.  If you haven’t tried the classic pairing of beef, chilies and rich dark chocolate, you are missing a timeless taste sensation.  The combo for this dish is a bit sweet, a bit hot and very exotic.

For this recipe, I chose flat iron steaks as they tend to have a stronger beef flavor.  Filet Mignon or a nice New York Strip will work just as well.  Try to find a good fresh Mexican chili powder – there are some interesting new ones appearing all the time, or better yet, make your own.  It is easier than you think!

Grilled Flat Iron Steak w/ Gorgonzola Farro

• 2 (6) ounce flat iron steaks (filet mignon or New York strips will work too)
• 1 tablespoons Pastamoré Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar plus finishing drizzle
• 1/2 tablespoons Canola oil
• 1 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• salt and pepper to taste

Mix the Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar and the Canola oil in the bottom of a shallow baking dish. Add the steaks and marinate for about an hour on each side.

Mix together the brown sugar, chili powder and allspice. Set aside.

Remove the steaks from the marinade, salt them and dip them in the spice rub on both sides. 

Heat a grill or grill pan until hot.

Grill the steaks until you get the doneness you desire.  For medium rare, this should be about 4 to 5 minutes per side.

Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.  Drizzle a little bit of Dark Chocolate Balsamic over the meat before serving.

Serves 2