Raymond Blanc Souffle Food

COMTé CHEESE SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Using a pastry brush, thoroughly grease a 25-30cm oval or round earthenware dish with a thin, even layer of butter. Coat with the breadcrumbs, shaking out the excess, then set the dish aside. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and place a baking tray on the middle shelf to heat up.
• To prepare the soufflé base, melt the butter in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Add the flour, whisk until smooth and cook to a nutty blond roux. Lower the heat, then gradually add the warm milk, little by little, whisking to keep the consistency smooth. Add the cheese and mustard, and continue to cook, stirring from time to time, for 3-5 mins. Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Add the egg yolks and stir until the mixture is silky and smooth. Season with white pepper (see tip) and keep warm. Can be made ahead up to this point (see tip).
• In a large, clean, dry bowl, whisk the egg whites with the lemon juice to medium peaks.
• Transfer the warm soufflé base to a large bowl and briefly whisk in a third of the whipped egg whites to lighten the base. Carefully fold in the remaining egg whites with a spatula or large metal spoon, delicately cutting and lifting the mixture to ensure minimum loss of volume and lightness. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Pour the soufflé mixture into the prepared dish so it is three-quarters full.
• Slide the dish onto the hot baking tray and bake for 20 mins. Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce.
• Bring the cream to the boil and add the cheese and some freshly ground white pepper, stirring continuously. Once the cheese has melted, remove from the heat and taste for seasoning. Add a dash of kirsch (if using), then pour the sauce into a warmed small jug.
• Sprinkle the grated cheese over the soufflé and bake for a further 5 mins. Serve immediately, placing the soufflé and sauce in the middle of the table so everyone can help themselves.

PISTACHIO SOUFFLé WITH PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Make the ice cream the day before. Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks using electric beaters, then gradually beat in the sugar, whisking after each addition until you have a smooth, glossy meringue. Using the same beaters (no need to wash) whisk the cream with the pistachio paste to soft peaks. Fold the cream and egg yolks through the meringue, spoon into a container and freeze for six hours, or overnight.
• To make the soufflés, brush the inside of six ramekins (about 300ml, if they're smaller, use more) with melted butter, then coat with caster sugar. The easiest way to do this is to tip some sugar into one dish and rotate the dish so a layer sticks to the butter, then tip the excess into the next dish and so on, adding more sugar if you need to.
• Whisk the egg yolks with 2 tbsp sugar, the flours and a pinch of salt. Heat the milk with the pistachio paste until just steaming then, whisking constantly, pour the liquid onto the egg yolk mixture. Clean out the milk pan, then pour the mixture back in, return to the heat and cook for 2-3 mins until it's the consistency of thick custard. Remove from the heat and cover the surface with cling film until needed. This can be done in the morning - keep this and the egg whites in a bowl, covered in the fridge.
• When ready to eat, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put a baking sheet on the top shelf to heat up. Using electric beaters, whisk the egg whites to medium-stiff peaks, then whisk in the remaining sugar. Mix a large spoonful of the egg whites into the pistachio mixture, then carefully fold in the rest. Divide between the ramekins, then run a cutlery knife around the top edge of each of the ramekin (this encourages the soufflé to rise evenly). Transfer to the hot baking sheet and cook for 8-12 mins until well risen. Serve straight away (or they will collapse) topped with the pistachio ice cream.