Goat cheese and walnut souffles with watercress and frisee

1 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
¾cupWalnuts; toasted lightly,
; cooled, and chopped
; fine
3tablespoonsUnsalted butter
4tablespoonsAll-purpose flour
1cupMilk
4largesEggs; separated, the
; whites at room
; temperature
cupCrumbled mild goat cheese such as; (about 6ounces)
; Montrachet
1teaspoonFresh thyme leaves or 1/4 teaspoon
; crumbled dried
A pinch of cream of tartar
3tablespoonsSherry vinegar
¾teaspoonDijon-style mustard
4tablespoonsWalnut oil
2tablespoonsOlive oil
2largesBunc watercress; rinsed, spun dry,
; and coarse
; stemsdiscarded
; (about 5 cups)
5cupsTorn frisee; (French or Italian
; curly chicory,
; available
; atspecialty produce
; markets), rinsed
; and spun dry

Directions

FOR THE SOUFFLES

FOR THE SALAD

Make the souffles:

Coat the bottom and side of each of 8 buttered ½-cup ramekins with about 1 tablespoon of the walnuts and arrange the ramekins in a jelly-roll pan.

In a small saucepan melt the butter over moderately low heat, whisk in the flour, and cook the roux, whisking, for 3 minutes. Add the milk in a stream, whisking, and boil the mixture over moderate heat, whisking, for 2 minutes, or until it is thick and smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it cool slightly. Whisk in the yolks, 1 at a time, the goat cheese, the thyme, and salt and pepper to taste and whisk the mixture until it is combined well. In another bowl beat the whites with a pinch of salt until they are frothy, add the cream of tartar, and beat the whites until they just hold stiff peaks. Whisk one third of the whites into the cheese mixture and fold in the remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Divide the souffle mixture among the ramekins, sprinkle each souffle with about 1½ teaspoons of the remaining walnuts, and bake the souffles in the pper third of a preheated 400°F. oven for 20 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden.

Transfer a ramekin to each plate and serve the souffles immediately.

Make the salad while the souffles are baking: In a bowl whisk together the vinegar, the mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oils in a stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. In a bowl toss the watercress and the frisee with the dressing and divide the salad among 8 plates.

Serves 8.

Gourmet April 1990

Converted by MC_Buster.

Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.