By
delicious. team
Impress your guests this Christmas with this twice-baked soufflé.
Ingredients
- 300ml semi-skimmed milk
- 1 celery stick, roughly chopped
- 25g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 25g plain flour
- 2 tsp English mustard
- 4 medium free-range eggs, separated
- 175g Stilton, crumbled
- 50g walnuts, roughly chopped
- 50g watercress leaves, plus extra to serve
- Caramelised onion chutney to serve
Method
- 1. Heat the milk with the celery to just below the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Butter 6 x 150ml ramekins thoroughly and place in a deep baking tray.
- 2. Melt the butter in a small pan over a low heat, then stir in the flour to form a smooth paste. Remove from the heat and slowly strain in the celery-infused milk, stirring constantly to make a smooth sauce. Return to the heat and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring. Allow to bubble for a couple of minutes, then transfer to a large bowl and leave to cool for a few minutes.
- 3. Beat the mustard and egg yolks into the sauce and stir through 150g of the Stilton, the walnuts and the watercress. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until they form stiff peaks, then, using a metal spoon, fold a little of the whisked white through the soufflé mix to loosen it. Fold the rest of the egg white gradually into the soufflé.
- 4. Divide the soufflé mix among the buttered ramekins, then fill the baking tray with boiling water so it reaches halfway up the outside of the ramekins. Bake for 20 minutes until the soufflés have risen and are cooked through. Carefully remove from the tray, cool, then chill until needed (see get ahead tip).
- 5. When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6.
- 6. Line a baking sheet with baking paper and, using a paring knife, carefully loosen the soufflés from their ramekins. Turn each one out onto the baking sheet (or onto your palm and then the baking sheet if that’s easier) and scatter over the remaining 25g Stilton.
- 7. Return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until risen and golden on top. Serve with a little more watercress and a dollop of chutney.
Nutritional info
Per serving: 305kcals, 24.7g fat (11.3g saturated), 15.5g protein, 5.6g carbs (2.7g sugars), 0.8g salt, 0.8g fibre
Chef's tip
Make up to the end of step 4, cool, then wrap each in cling film. Freeze for up to 1 month and defrost in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, keep chilled for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve, continue from step 5.
Wine Recommendation
Walnut, apple and Stilton all point towards the fruity, fresh qualities of Chenin Blanc – apples, pears and guava in a glass. Bag a South African bottle.
More Christmas recipes
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Make-ahead recipes
Christmas baking
Vegetarian Christmas recipes
Christmas recipes