Make a Ham & Cheese or Chocolate Souffle

Two Simply Delicious Souffle Recipes

Feb 24, 2009 Vicki F. Chavis

Souffles are one of the finer things in life. Lovely concoctions made from basic ingredients; eggs, cheese, milk and butter create unique puffs of pure perfection.

Souffles are light yet flavorful dishes. Eggs are the main ingredient in every souffle and egg whites give them their fluffy cake-like exterior.

Since most people these days are concerned about the number of egg yolks in their diet (egg yolks=cholesterol), the ham and cheese souffle uses only one yolk, but two whites for a nice lift.

Black Forest Ham and Gruyere Cheese Souffle

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tblsp butter
  • 3 Tbslp flour
  • 1 cup hot low-fat milk
  • 3/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese
  • 1 dash cayenne pepper
  • 2 cups minced cooked Black Forest ham
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 pinch of cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. With vegetable oil spray, grease a 2-quart souffle or casserole dish on bottom and sides. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on bottom and sides liberally.
  3. In a sauce pan, melt the butter and blend in flour with a whisk. Add hot milk, stir vigorously until blended. Stir in ham and cheese. Let cool a little.
  4. While mixture in cooling in the sauce pan, beat the egg yolk slightly, adding a little of the hot mixture to the yolk. Add back into the hot cheese mixture, stirring well.
  5. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar till the whites are quite stiff. Fold them thoroughly into the ham and cheese mixture. Pour mixture into the prepared souffle dish and bake at 350 F until firm, for 35-40 minutes. Serve immediately.

Easy Chocolate Souffle Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz dark chocolate (use chocolate made from at least 60% cocoa)
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 5 Tblsp sugar
  • 5 egg whites

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Butter a 1-quart souffle dish. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (or in a bowl or small saucepan placed over the pot of boiling water).
  2. In a bowl, beat the egg yolks until they turn light yellow and then add the sugar. Beat until mixture is well blended.
  3. Take the chocolate off of the heat and slowly add in the egg mixture to it, stirring well.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until they have stiff peaks. Pour the chocolate mixture into the egg whites, folding gently with a large spoon or spatula.
  5. Pour mixture into the greased souffle dish and bake for 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

Optional:

For an extra dash of elegance, make fresh whipped cream for the chocolate souffle.

Fresh Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tblsp confectioners' sugar

Directions:

  1. Combine the cream and vanilla and whip in electric mixer or by hand with a whisk until peaks just begin to form.
  2. Add sugar and whip until peaks form.
  3. Serve immediately.

Souffles make a delicious main dish, side dish or dessert, depending upon what ingredients are added. The main ingredient of any souffle is always the egg. The white of the egg is always the ingredient that makes every souffle so wonderfully light and airy.

Souffle ramekins are a great gift for a friend or oneself with their perfectly-sized portions and can be purchased online with ease. For another dessert with chocolate, try this one.

The copyright of the article Make a Ham & Cheese or Chocolate Souffle in Party Food is owned by Vicki F. Chavis. Permission to republish Make a Ham & Cheese or Chocolate Souffle in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Ham & Cheese Souffle, photodisc.images Ham & Cheese Souffle
Chocolate Souffle, Blue Moon Stock Photos Chocolate Souffle
 
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