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Vanilla Bean Soufflé

in Diana's Recipe Book

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Servings: 6
 
Comments:
Soufflé

Soufflé is a baked dish made basically of milk and eggs, to which separately beaten egg whites give an airy lightness. Soufflé means literally "puffed-up".

Ingredients:
25 x 8-inch piece of parchment paper
36-inch-long piece of kitchen string
1 cup milk
1/2 vanilla bean
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
4 egg yolks
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup superfine sugar
6 egg whites
1 tbsp. cognac (optional)

Instructions:
Make a collar on a 7 x 4 (18 x 10 cm) inch round soufflé dish by wrapping the parchment paper around the outside of the dish and securing it with the kitchen string.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, scald the milk, bringing it to just under a boil; reduce heat to low. With a paring knife, cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise. With the tip of the knife, open the pod to expose the seeds and scrape the seeds into the milk. Add the pieces of the pod and stir; keep warm.

In another small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, about 1 minute. Remove the pieces of pod from the milk and discard the pod. Gradually add the milk to the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly, until smooth. Increase heat to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly until the mixture is thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Position rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 350°F (180°C).

In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks and salt, and beat with a whisk until the mixture is thick and light in color. Gradually add the sugar and continue whisking until the sugar is dissolved. Gradually stir the milk mixture into the yolks until fully incorporated and smooth. Refrigerate the sauce at least 15 minutes.

In a copper beating bowl or mixing bowl, use a balloon whisk to beat the egg whites to soft peaks. (When the whisk is lifted straight out of the bowl and inverted, the whites should remain standing upright, with just a slight bend at the tip.)

Remove the vanilla sauce from the refrigerator and stir in the cognac. Add about 1 cup of the egg whites and stir until smooth. Carefully fold in the remaining whites. Immediately pour the soufflé mixture into the soufflé dish and bake until the top is golden brown and the soufflé is almost double in height, 45 to 50 minutes. Serve immediately.

Serves 6

Source: Williams-Sonoma Kitchens
Date: July 24, 2002

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