Cheese Souffle Recipe
Here is a basic cheese souffle recipe that you can change around somewhat by using different sorts of seasonings and cheese. You can even use a blue cheese like Roquefort for something a little different.
Recipe Notes
This recipe begins by preparing a bechamel sauce, into which cheese is blended, followed by the egg yolks.
This cheese souffle recipe works great with Cheddar, but don't be afraid to explore some great French cheeses like Beaufort, Cantal, or even Roquefort.
If you use a soft, crumbly cheese like Roquefort, don't try to shred it. Just crumble it slowly into the bechamel sauce. Note too that Roquefort is quite salty and strong. Use less cheese (about 3 ounces) and don't season with additional salt.
In France this cheese souffle recipe is most often served as a starting course. It is nice to serve a very small and simple green salad alongside for the pleasure of contrasting tastes, temperatures and textures.
Because it is a little fussy (or at least it has a reputation for being so), it is a good idea to follow the souffle with a main course that is more flexible. A stew, such as this beef bourguignon recipe, is a good option. It will just sit there and wait patiently for the souffle to do its diva act.
Most people wouldn't follow the main course with the typical cheese course, because the starting course contains cheese. But gosh, French cheese is so so good, who wants to lose the chance to taste some more? Not me!
Well, cheese course or not, a fruit dessert recipe will probably be welcome finish to the meal.
Cheese Souffle
Souffle au fromage
Prep time: 25 min
Bake time: 30 min
Makes 6 servings.
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs, plus 1 large egg white
- 1/4 cup butter (2 ounces)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 6 ounces cheese (about 2 cups shredded)
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- salt and pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Directions
- Separate the eggs. Begin by separating the eggs. Place the egg whites in a very clean metal mixing bowl, and the egg yolks in a small bowl. Allow the eggs to come to room temperature for about 20 minutes.
- Prep work. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Shred the cheese if necessary. In the microwave, melt a teaspoon of butter in a two quart souffle dish. Use a pastry brush to thoroughly coat the sides and bottom of the dish with melted butter.
- Make the bechamel. Melt the butter in a medium sized sauce pan on medium heat. When it is melted, stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring frequently, for two minutes or until the mixture is foamy. Add the milk, slowly at first and stirring after each addition to keep lumps from forming. After you've added about half the milk, you can just pour in the rest.
- Add cheese, cool, and add egg yolks. Heat the sauce for several minutes until it is thickened and almost boiling. Lower the heat and stir in nutmeg and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the cheese, adding a bit at a time and stirring until blended after each addition. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, mix in the egg yolks.
- Beat the egg whites. Using a hand mixer with whisk attachment, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they are stiff and glossy.
- Fold in the egg whites. Blend 1/4 of the egg whites into the cheese sauce to lighten it for the folding process. Place the rest of the egg whites on top of the lightened sauce and use a rubber spatula to cut in the egg whites and fold over the sauce. Turn the pan a little and continue cutting, folding and turning until the egg whites are blended with the sauce. Don't over blend, about a minute should do it.
- Bake. Pour the batter into the prepared souffle dish and place the dish in the preheated (400°F - 200°C) oven. Bake for 30 minutes - no peeking. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes:
- You can also make this recipe in individual ramekins. It makes enough for 6 serving sized ramekins. Reduce the baking time to 18 minutes.
- You can prepare the bechamel sauce in advance, just make sure it is at room temperature when you fold in the egg whites.
Cheese Souffle Recipe Variations
Breadcrumbs. Coating the sides of the souffle dish with fine breadcrumbs (or Parmesan cheese too) gives the egg whites something to grip on to and the souffle should rise further.
Herbs: Add several tablespoons of finely chopped herbs such as chives or parsley to the cheese mixture after it has cooled.
Seasonings: Pep up your cheese souffle recipe with a little mustard, Worcestershire, or cayenne pepper. Al of these can be added to the cheese mixture after it has cooled.
Get some souffle making tips: souffle recipes.
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