Skillet Soufflé Pancake Food

SKILLET SOUFFLé PANCAKE

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 325°F. Butter an 8" nonstick skillet, then sprinkle with 3 Tbsp. (38 g) granulated sugar. Pour out any excess sugar that doesn't stick to pan.
• Combine 4 large egg whites and remaining ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar in a medium heatproof bowl and set over a medium saucepan filled with 1" of barely simmering water (do not let bowl touch water). Heat, whisking constantly, until sugar is dissolved and an instant-read thermometer registers 140°F, about 5 minutes.
• Immediately remove bowl from saucepan and transfer egg white mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until meringue is glossy and stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk ¼ cup (31 g) all-purpose flour, ½ tsp. baking powder, and ¼ tsp. kosher salt in a small bowl to combine. Whisk 2 large egg yolks, ½ cup whole milk, 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest, and ½ tsp. vanilla extract in a large bowl. Sift in dry ingredients and whisk until batter is smooth.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold one quarter of meringue into batter to lighten. Fold in remaining meringue in 2 batches, taking care not to deflate batter. Gently transfer batter to prepared pan, and carefully smooth top with a small offset spatula.
• Bake pancake until doubled in volume and it springs back slightly when lightly pressed, 23-25 minutes (do not open the oven door during the first 20 minutes or the pancake may deflate).
• Remove pancake from oven and dust with powdered sugar. Serve immediately with fresh fruit.

SOUFFLE PANCAKE

Steps:

• Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a 12-inch oven-proof skillet over low heat, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Separate eggs, placing egg whites in a large bowl and egg yolks in a medium bowl. Add flour, milk, sugar, lemon juice, salt, baking soda, and vanilla extract to the bowl of yolks. Add 3 tablespoons melted butter; lightly mix into a slightly lumpy batter. Let batter rest while whipping egg whites.
• Whisk egg whites into stiff peaks using a wire whisk or electric mixer. Gently fold batter into the egg whites.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Pour in batter just before butter starts to brown. Cook until slightly set, 2 to 3 minutes. Drop in sliced strawberries until they are mostly submerged.
• Transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake souffle until top is light brown and center is set and doesn't jiggle when shaken, about 25 minutes. Broil until top is dark brown in color, about 2 minutes.
• Slide pancake onto a plate and sprinkle confectioners' sugar on top.

SOUFFLé PANCAKE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F. Butter bottom and side of an ovenproof 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
• Soak raisins in hot water to cover in a bowl.
• Whisk together yolks, milk, vanilla, flour, and salt in a large bowl until combined well.
• Beat whites in another bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add granulated sugar, a little at a time, beating, and beat until whites just hold stiff peaks. Fold whites into yolk mixture gently but thoroughly. Drain raisins and fold half of drained raisins into batter.
• Pour batter into skillet and sprinkle with remaining raisins, then bake until firm and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Slide pancake from skillet onto a cutting board and cut with a serrated knife into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Cool handle of skillet under cold running water, then heat half of remaining butter in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Sauté half of pancake pieces, turning gently, until lightly browned and crisp, then transfer to a platter and dust with confectioners sugar. Sauté remaining pancake pieces in remaining butter in same manner and dust with confectioners sugar.

JAPANESE SOUFFLé PANCAKES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer or a medium bowl; set aside. Place egg yolks in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, the vanilla and baking powder to egg yolks and whisk until blended. Add flour and milk; whisk until fully combined.
• Add lemon juice and salt to egg whites. Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a hand mixer, whip mixture on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Continue to whip over medium while gradually sprinkling with remaining 5 tablespoons granulated sugar. Turn speed to high and whip until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture doubles in size, about 1 minute. Take care not to overbeat meringue.
• Heat a lidded nonstick skillet over the lowest heat setting and set the lid aside.
• Using a rubber spatula, scoop about 1/3 of meringue into egg yolk mixture and gently fold almost combined. Repeat with half the remaining meringue until almost combined, then fold in the remaining meringue just until no streaks remain.
• Carefully grease the warm skillet and the inside of four 3-inch-wide pastry rings (they should be at least 1 1/2 inches tall) using the butter. Check the heat of the pan by sprinkling a bit of water in it: Droplets should steam off the surface, but not dance or sputter. Place the greased pastry rings in the warm pan and ladle a scant 1/2 cup batter into each ring. Place lid on top of skillet and cook pancakes on very low heat until they start to rise and a few small bubbles start to form on top, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove lid, carefully slide a flat spatula underneath each pancake and position another spatula on top, then gently flip pancakes in their rings. Immediately replace lid and cook until pancakes are cooked through and spring back to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer cooked pancakes to a platter, grease the skillet and pastry rings and repeat to make 4 additional pancakes.
• Top pancakes with a pat of butter and drizzle with maple syrup; serve immediately. Serve with any combination of confectioners' sugar, whipped cream and berries, if desired.