Coffee and Cardamom Truffles

Coffee and cardamom truffles are delicious and refined sweets, perfect for after dinner or a break. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 200 g of good quality dark chocolate
• 100 ml of fresh cream
• 1 tablespoon of strong espresso coffee
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 6 cardamom pods
• Unsweetened cocoa powder as needed

Preparation

1. Open the cardamom pods and extract the seeds, then crush them in a mortar until they turn into powder.
2. In a small saucepan, pour the fresh cream with the sugar and powdered cardamom. Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat. Let it infuse for a few minutes.
3. In the meantime, break up the dark chocolate and put it in a heat-resistant bowl.
4. Strain the cream to remove cardamom pieces and add the espresso coffee.
5. Pour the hot cream and coffee mixture over the chocolate and wait a minute for the chocolate to start melting.
6. Mix well with a spatula until you have a smooth and homogeneous ganache.
7. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put the ganache in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, or until it has firmed up enough to shape into balls.
8. Using a teaspoon, scoop some of the set ganache and form balls with your hands. If the ganache warms up too much and becomes difficult to work with, put your hands under cold water and continue forming the truffles.
9. Roll the truffles in the unsweetened cocoa to evenly coat them.
10. Store the truffles in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Curiosity

Cardamom is a spice widely used in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine, but it is also being extensively used in Western desserts for its pungent and slightly citrusy aroma, which pairs well with coffee and chocolate.

Remember that these delicious truffles are an example of a union between Italian flavors, like espresso coffee, and exotic spices, like cardamom. A combination of tastes that can pleasantly surprise the palate.