Rhubarb and Custard Kinda Souffle
Editor's Note: No need to head to France for your next soufflé. You can show off your skills with this recipe of a delicate and delicious nature. Although a soufflé may seem slightly old-fashioned, it still remains a project for an experienced cook. Getting the temperature, speed and stages timed perfectly is essential to getting your soufflé to rise properly. But even if yours does not hold up, even if it just falls flat, the amazing flavors in this dish, rhubarb and custard, will still please your guests and have them begging for more. This interactive dessert requires you asking your guests to make a hole in the top of their personal soufflé and add the cold custard. This is the life.
This is like a cross between a soufflé and a light pudding. A soufflé is an old-fashioned classic that I always try to avoid making these days, as I made so many of them when I was at college! Like a good omelette, a soufflé is the test of a really good cook – if you don’t get your temperature, speed and stages right you can end up with something as flat as a pancake. But now I’ve come up with a recipe that’s so delicious, with such a beautiful flavour and texture, it doesn’t really matter if it sinks. My favourite bit is getting everyone to make a hole in the top of their hot soufflé and pour in some very cold custard. There’s nothing better.
Serves6
Cooking MethodBaking
CostModerate
Total Timeunder 1 hour
OccasionCasual Dinner Party
Recipe CourseDessert
Dietary ConsiderationPeanut Free, Soy Free, Vegetarian
EquipmentElectric Mixer
MealBrunch
Taste and TextureCreamy, Fruity, Rich, Sweet, Tangy
Type of DishDessert
Ingredients
- 400g/14oz rhubarb, cut into 2.5cm/1-inch chunks
- 100g/3.5oz caster sugar (granulated sugar), plus 2 tablespoons
- 25g/5 tablespoons softened butter
- 6 gingersnap biscuits
- 150g/5.25oz readymade custard, plus extra for serving
- 1 large free-range or organic egg yolk,
- plus 4 egg whites
- 1 teaspoon plain flour
- Sea salt
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4 and put in a baking tray to heat up. Put the rhubarb into a saucepan with the 100g of sugar. Put a lid on the pan and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until the rhubarb is soft. Put to one side and leave to cool completely.
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Get yourself six ramekin dishes and rub their insides with the butter. Put the gingersnap biscuits into a sandwich bag, tie a knot in the top and smash the biscuits with a rolling pin or the bottom of a pan to make quite small crumbs. Dust the insides of the buttered ramekins with the smashed biscuits, then shake out any excess crumbs and keep them for later. (You can put the dishes into the fridge at this point until you’re ready to put your soufflé together.)
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Blob a tablespoon of the cooled stewed rhubarb into each ramekin dish. Mix the rest of the rhubarb with the custard, the egg yolk and the flour. In a large, clean bowl, using an electric whisk, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until you have soft peaks. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and whisk on a high speed until the whites are very stiff – this should take about 3 minutes.
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Working gently, fold 2 spoonfuls of the stiff egg whites into the rhubarb mixture. Tip this into the bowl containing the remaining egg whites and fold together very carefully. Divide the mixture between the ramekins and level the tops. Wipe the rims of the dishes clean.
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Remove the hot baking tray from the oven and place the ramekins on it. Put back into the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the soufflés are a lovely golden colour and have risen nicely. Serve immediately, sprinkled with your leftover gingersnap crumbs.
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2007 Jamie Oliver
