CHRISTMAS CHERRY SOUFFLÉ
(Serves 2-3)
Wondering what to do with that last morsel of Christmas pudding? Despite its myriad of rich flavours – Christmas pudding, ginger, cherries and brandy – this soufflé manages to taste decadent yet light.
Ingredients:
40 g (1 ½ oz) butter, plus extra for greasing
25 g (1 oz) cold Christmas pudding crumbled
2 tbsp brandy
25 g (1 oz) Bonne Maman Black Cherry Conserve
4 tbsp plain flour
300 ml (½ pint) whole milk
75 g (3 oz) golden caster sugar
25 g (1 oz) stem ginger, finely chopped
4 large eggs, separated
Icing sugar, to dust
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180°c (fan oven 160°c), gas mark 4. Butter an 18cm (7 inch), 1.7 litre (3 pint) soufflé dish. Put a flat baking sheet in the oven to heat up.
- Stir together the crumbled Christmas pudding with the brandy and conserve and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and gradually add the milk. Bring to the boil, stirring, then reduce the heat and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in 50 g (2 oz) of the sugar with the ginger, then beat in the egg yolks. Gently fold in the Christmas pudding mixture into the sauce.
- Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then gradually whisk in the remaining sugar until the meringue is stiff and glossy. With a large melt spoon fold the meringue into the sauce and turn into the prepared dish.
- Sit the dish on the heated baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes until well risen and golden. Dust with icing sugar and serve straight away.
Cooks Tips
– The sauce for the soufflé can be made the day before it is needed. Don’t beat in the 50 g (2 oz) caster sugar but sprinkle on top of the sauce to prevent a skin forming. When ready to cook, beat well before whisking and fold in the meringue as above.
– Buttering the dish helps the soufflé to rise up in the oven.
– Omit the ginger and add a pinch of mixed spice to the pudding mixture.
– Serve with chilled cream or vanilla ice cream if liked.
Recipe from: Bonne Maman – The Seasonal Cookbook (Simon & Schuster), available through Amazon, WH Smith and Waterstones @ £12.99.
For more delicious recipes visit the Bonne Maman website at www.bonnemaman.co.uk.