Twice-baked cauliflower souffles

Recipes / Vegetarian

These twice-baked souffles can be made a day in advance, making them perfect for entertaining or for a simple lunch. Serve them with a bitter-leaf salad to cut through the richness of the gruyere.

Recipe «Twice-baked cauliflower souffles» presented in category Recipes / Vegetarian, to prepare this dish you will need no more 1:00 minutes. To make this dish at home by prescription from the author Gomer would need: 200g cauliflower, cut into florets, 1/2 onion, chopped, 1 bay leaf, 2 fresh thyme sprigs, 350ml milk , 80g unsalted butter, 120g plain flour, 4 eggs, separated , 300ml thickened cream, 140g gruyere, grated, Radicchio leaves and watercress, to serve.

Ingredients:

  • 200g cauliflower, cut into florets 
  • 1/2 onion, chopped 
  • 1 bay leaf 
  • 2 fresh thyme sprigs 
  • 350ml milk 
  • 80g unsalted butter 
  • 120g plain flour 
  • 4 eggs, separated 
  • 300ml thickened cream 
  • 140g gruyere, grated 
  • Radicchio leaves and watercress, to serve 

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C and grease four 1-cup (250ml) ramekins. Place the cauliflower, onion, bay leaf, thyme and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook, partially covered, for 8-10 minutes until cauliflower is tender. Strain, reserving cauliflower and milk, and discard the other solids.
  2. Melt butter in a clean saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes, then gradually whisk in the reserved milk. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes until thickened and combined.
  3. Whisk in the egg yolks, 1/2 cup (125ml) cream and half the cheese until combined. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Whiz the cauliflower in a food processor until smooth, then add cheese sauce and pulse to combine. Season.
  5. In a large bowl, using electric beaters, whisk eggwhites to stiff peaks. Fold one-quarter of eggwhites into cauliflower mixture to loosen, then gently fold in remainder. Divide among prepared ramekins, place in a deep baking pan and fill with enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of ramekins. Bake for 20 minutes or until puffed and golden.
  6. Remove from pan and set aside to cool slightly before turning out onto a baking tray (they can be covered and refrigerated for 24 hours at this stage).
  7. Preheat oven to 180C. Pour remaining 175ml cream over souffles and scatter with remaining cheese. Bake for a further 10-15 minutes until souffles rise again and sauce bubbles. Serve with salad leaves.