Leek Or Spinach Soufflé Pudding Food

LEEK OR SPINACH SOUFFLé PUDDING

Steps:

• Sweat the leeks in 100 grams of butter with salt until just barely beginning to brown and totally dry, about 10 minutes.
• Make a béchamel by melting the remaining butter in a small pot, then adding the flour, stirring to combine, and then slowly adding the milk, whisking, until it boils and thickens.
• Let cook 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off burner.
• In a blender, blend the vegetables and béchamel until totally smooth. Add the Parmesan and then the yolks, one at a time, until it is all incorporated. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
• Preheat oven to 325. Place a medium- to high-sided ovenproof container into which a loaf pan or 1 1/2- or 2-quart soufflé mold can fit on a rack in the middle of the oven. Heat water in a kettle. Fill the container in the oven about halfway, keeping extra water for filling more once you've put the soufflé pudding in.
• Beat the whites to stiff peaks.
• Lightly butter the pan or mold.
• Gently fold a third of the beaten whites into the vegetable, béchamel and yolk mixture to lighten it. Then fold in the rest, and add to the pan or mold. Place this into the water bath in the oven. Water should come 2/3 of the way up its sides. Lightly cover with a loose piece of buttered or oiled aluminum foil.
• Cook for 1 1/2 hours, or a little more, until the soufflé has risen at least an inch above the pan or mold - remove foil when the soufflé begins to push against it - and the top cracks. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

EASY SPINACH SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl whisk together egg, milk, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Fold in spinach. Place in a small casserole dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until lightly set.
• NOTE: If you are in a hurry, use a microwave safe casserole dish, cover with plastic wrap, and cook on high for 3 minutes. Release the steam, recover, and cook on high for another 3 minutes. Enjoy!

CHEESE SOUFFLé IN 4 EASY STEPS

Steps:

• Preparing the soufflé dish: Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and place a baking sheet on the middle shelf. Butter a 15cm soufflé dish generously, then sprinkle in the breadcrumbs and rotate the dish to ensure the butter is evenly coated. Tip out any excess breadcrumbs.
• Making a thick white sauce: In a pan, melt the butter over a medium heat; stir in the flour and mustard. Cook, stirring, for 1 min. Take off the heat and gradually stir in the milk, mixing it in thoroughly before adding more. Return to the heat and stir continuously until very thick (around 10 mins). Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. Crack the eggs, placing the whites into a clean bowl and stirring the yolks into the sauce. Stir in cheddar and season well.
• Adding the egg whites: Use a clean whisk to beat the egg whites until peaks form that just hold their shape (electric is best as it will make the job much quicker). Then take a metal spoon and gently stir the whipped whites into the white sauce in a figure of eight.
• Top-hatting: Spoon the mixture into the dish. Run a cutlery knife around the edge to create a 'top hat' effect; this ensures the soufflé rises above the rim and doesn't stick. Place on the baking sheet and bake for 25-30 mins until the top is golden and risen and has a slight wobble. Serve immediately.
• EQUIPMENT: 15cm soufflé dish, saucepan, 2 large mixing bowls, wooden spoon, spatula, baking sheet, large metal spoon, measuring jug, grater, electric whisk, cutlery knife.

POTATO, LEEK, AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Put leeks in a bowl with enough water to cover completely. Soak until you're ready to cook them.
• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Fry bacon in hot pot until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Remove all but 2 tablespoons bacon drippings from the pot.
• Drain leeks and shake vigorously to dry. Fry leeks and garlic in the reserved bacon drippings until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir potatoes with the leeks; add bay leaves. Pour the carton of chicken stock over the potatoes; bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper.
• Scoop about half the potatoes, leeks, and garlic into a food processor bowl with enough liquid to cover; process until pureed. Stir puree, bacon, spinach, and half-and-half into the soup; continue heating until again hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chicken broth from the can or half-and-half to achieve your desired consistency.

MASHED POTATO AND LEEK "SOUFFLE"

Steps:

• Combine the potatoes and enough cold water to cover in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Set aside.
• Spray a medium nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium heat.
• Add the leek, hot water, salt, and pepper.
• Saute over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally and adding more hot water, if necessary, until the leek is tender and the liquid has evaporated.
• Mash the potatoes with a potato mashed or electric mixer; add the milk and the reserved cooking liquid, one tablespoons at a time, until the potatoes are fluffy.
• Stir in the cooked leak.
• Spray a 1 quart soufflé or baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Transfer the potato mixture to the dish; cover and set aside until ready to bake (up to 2 hours ahead).
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Bake, uncovered, until the top is golden, 30 minutes.

CHEESE PUDDING SOUFFLéS

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Pour in the milk a little at a time, whisking after each addition until smooth. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the thyme sprigs. Reduce heat to very low and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce is medium-thick, about 20 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and remove the thyme.
• Melt the remaining tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add scallions, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup water. Reduce heat and cook until the garlic is soft and the water is nearly evaporated, about 10 minutes, adding more water if necessary to keep the vegetables from browning. Set aside to cool.
• Purée the mixture in a food processor, add the sauce, cayenne, Gruyère and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and process until blended. Taste and adjust seasoning -- it should be fairly highly seasoned. Add the egg yolks and process until blended. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously butter six 6-ounce ramekins or custard cups. Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl until they form soft peaks and gently fold them into the cheese mixture. (Do not overfold.) Spoon into the ramekins and place in a baking pan. Add enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides. Bake until the soufflés are puffed and light golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Carefully remove the ramekins. When the soufflés have cooled a bit, unmold them by running a paring knife around the edges, inverting each soufflé into the palm of your hand and placing it in a shallow baking dish, top side up. They can now be held at room temperature for a few hours. They can also be held in the refrigerator, covered in plastic wrap, overnight.
• When ready to serve, preheat oven to 425 degrees. If refrigerated, bring soufflés to room temperature. Pour the cream over and around soufflés. Bake until the cream is hot and bubbling and the soufflés are puffed up again, about 6 to 8 minutes. Serve with the hot cream.

CHEESE AND LEEK SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add the chopped leeks and cook gently until the leeks are soft but not brown.
• Stir in flour and mustard.
• Add the milk a little at a time stirring thoroughly to create a thick, glosy sauce. Season with salt and a little pepper.
• Add the egg yolks and beat well with a wooden spoon until completely incorporated.
• Add the cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
• In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until stiff and firmly set.
• Using a metal spoon, stir 2 tbsp of the egg whites into the soufle base to loosen the mix. Carefully fold in the remaining egg whites in two parts. Be very gentle and try to retainas much volume as possible.
• Lightly grease 6 individual ramekin dishes with a little butter. Gently spoon the mixture into the dishes filling to within 1 cm of the top.
• Place the ramekins onto a bakingsheet and cook in a preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the souffles are golden and risen.
• Serve immediately with a green salad and crusty bread. Be quick though, the souffle will sink in a few minutes.