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Cheese Soufflé

17/11/2023

Here is a classic cheese soufflé recipe with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

  • 25 g of butter, plus more for greasing
  • 25 g of flour
  • 250 ml of hot milk
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature, yolks and whites separated
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 pinch of ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch of grated nutmeg
  • 120 g of grated Gruyère cheese, or a mix of Gruyère and Parmesan for an all-Italian touch
  • 30 g of grated Parmesan, for dusting

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 190 °C and place a rack in the lower part.
  2. Butter four soufflé molds or a large soufflé dish.
  3. Melt the 25 g of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir for about 2 minutes until a golden compound (roux) is obtained.
  4. Gradually pour in the hot milk, stirring continuously until it thickens and lightly bubbles, then cook for another 2 minutes.
  5. Remove from the heat and add the yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  6. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, then add the grated Gruyère (and Parmesan if desired) and stir until the cheese is completely melted.
  7. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
  8. Fold in a quarter of the beaten egg whites into the cheese base to lighten the mixture.
  9. Gently fold in the rest of the egg whites, mixing from top to bottom to keep the air in the mixture.
  10. Fill the prepared molds with the mixture up to 1 cm from the rim, then dust with grated Parmesan.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, until the soufflés are puffed and golden.
  12. Serve immediately, as soufflés tend to deflate soon after baking.

Curiosity

The cheese soufflé is a classic of French cuisine, known for its airy and delicate texture that is achieved by incorporating beaten egg whites. It is a dish that requires some technique and attention to achieve the perfect result, but by carefully following the steps, you can create a truly refined and elegant dish. In Italy, the addition of Parmesan enriches the dish with an unmistakable flavor and a note of Italian culinary excellence.

Cheese Soufflé