Twice-Baked Garlic Soufflés

Ingredients for Twice-Baked Garlic Soufflés

• 5 tablespoons butter

• 1 head of fresh garlic, trimmed and chopped roughly, or 5 cloves dried garlic, papery skins removed, chopped

• 1/2 teaspoons vinegar

• 1 cup milk

• 3 tablespoons plain flour

• leaves from a couple of sprigs of thyme

• 120g grated Cantal, Comté or Cheddar cheese

• 60g grated Parmesan

• 4 large eggs, separated

• 300ml double cream

• seasoning, nutmeg, extra Parmesan, a few bread crumbs

• You will need six 3/4-cup individual soufflé dishes

How to make Twice-Baked Garlic Soufflés

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and add the garlic, 1/4 teaspoons salt, pepper to taste, 180ml water and the vinegar. Simmer covered for 10 minutes, then uncover and boil till the water has evaporated. Add the milk, bring to the boil, then process in a blender. Measure 240ml garlic-milk mixture.

Heat the remaining butter and stir in the flour and thyme. Cook for a minute, then make a white sauce by gradually stirring in the garlic milk till thick. Transfer to a big bowl, add the grated cheese, three-quarters of the Parmesan, then the egg yolks. Set aside.

Heat the oven to 177°C (163°C convection). Butter the individual soufflé dishes and dust the sides with the remaining Parmesan; if you have any left over, stir into the sauce. Set in a roasting pan and put a kettle on to boil.

Beat egg whites till firm but not dry. Fold half into the soufflé base, then add the rest. Spoon into the dishes (fill them almost to the top), pour boiling water into the pan to one-third of the depth of the dishes and bake for 20-25 minutes, till puffed and cooked through. Remove from oven and leave to cool—they will sink.

When cool, run a knife round the edge to loosen each soufflé, gently upend on to your hand, then put the right way up on one big dish or 6 gratin dishes. (You can make the soufflés a day ahead, or even freeze them. Make sure they are at room temperature before the second baking.)

To serve, set your oven to 204°C (191°C convection). Mix the cream with salt and pepper, grated nutmeg and Parmesan or other cheese. Pour over the soufflés to cover completely, then if you wish sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake for 10-15 minutes, till golden and the sauce bubbling. They will gently re-puff.

Clause de non-responsabilité

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.