Fresh Herb Souffle Food

VEGETABLE, HERB AND CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of four 6- or 8-ounce ramekins.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and salt and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup water, bring to a simmer and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is as thick as pudding, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese, fines herbes and whole eggs. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir until slightly cool.
• Beat the egg white in another medium bowl until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gently fold the whites into the cheese mixture until there are only a few streaks.
• Put the prepared ramekins on a baking dish, divide the batter evenly among them and smooth the tops with a spoon. Bake until golden and puffed about 1 inch above the lips of the ramekins, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy right away.

HERBED PARMESAN CHEESE SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter and flour 7- to 8-cup soufflé dish. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; stir 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk, then nutmeg. Bring to simmer, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook sauce until very thick, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in cheese and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Cool 1 minute. (Soufflé base can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature. Before continuing, stir soufflé base over low heat until warm.)
• Whisk yolks in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in soufflé base. Using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into soufflé base in 2 additions. Transfer batter to prepared dish.
• Bake soufflé until top is puffed and golden brown and center is just set, about 35 minutes. Serve immediately.

CHEESE AND HERB SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Put the milk with the bay leaf, onion, and pinch of paprika in a saucepan and bring just to the boil. Turn off the heat, cover, and set aside to infuse 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter 8 (1/2-cup/125 ml) ramekins or 1 (4-cup/1 liter) souffle dish, and dust with the grated Parmesan cheese.
• In a clean saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk over the milk, and cook, stirring, until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and beat in the yolks. Stir through the cheese and herbs. Season well with salt and pepper.
• Beat the whites to stiff peaks with a pinch of salt. Stir a spoonful into the yolk mixture, then pour the yolk mixture onto the remaining whites and gently fold together. Pour into the souffle dish and bake until risen and set, but still slightly creamy in the center, about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the souffle dishes. Serve immediately before it slumps.

FRESH HERB SOUFFLE

Steps:

• In a 2-quart saucepan, heat the milk on medium heat. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the flour. Stir and cook for two minutes. Add the warmed milk, and stir constantly over low heat until smooth and thick. This takes 3 to 5 minutes.
• Beat egg yolks with a fork or whisk. Stir a small amount of milk sauce in the egg yolks. Beat together, then pour in remaining milk sauce. Stir in cheese, mustard, fresh herbs, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Fold half of the beaten egg whites into the sauce. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
• Put mixture in a well-greased souffle dish. If desired, put a rim of parchment or aluminum foil as a collar around the top of the dish (this must also be greased). Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Test with knife. Serve immediately.

SPINACH HERB SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 1 1/2-quart souffle dish or 6 (1-cup) ramekins and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
• In a medium skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add the green onions and saute until wilted. Add the spinach, herbs, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the moisture evaporates. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• In a small saucepan heat the milk over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and whisk until a smooth paste forms, about 2 minutes. Do not allow the flour to brown. Whisk in the hot milk, a pinch of salt, and a dash of hot sauce. Cook, stirring, until the mixture boils and thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Fold in the spinach mixture and stir in all but 1 tablespoon of the remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Put egg whites and a pinch of salt in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until stiff peaks form. Stir a large spoonful of the egg whites into the spinach mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining egg whites just until combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared souffle mold or ramekins. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese. Bake until puffed and golden, about 30 to 35 minutes for the large souffle or 15 to 20 minutes for the small ones. Serve immediately.