Lemon Souffle

Chef Anne Burrell shares her secrets to perfectly seared black bass, with moist and flaky flesh under impossibly crisp skin. The mild fish is paired with a fresh Bitter Green, Grapefruit & Feta salad. For dessert, Chef Anne knows the tricks to baking light-as-air Lemon Soufflés, finished with silky Crème Anglaise

Total Time: 50 min
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 30 min
Yield:6 servings
Level:Intermediate

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the ramekins
• 3/4 cup sugar, plus more for coating the ramekins
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 eggs, separated plus 2 more whites
• 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested
• Kosher salt
• Creme Anglaise, recipe follows
• Creme Anglaise:
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 vanilla bean
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 egg yolks

 

Directions

1. Special equipment: six 8-ounce ramekins
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Brush the inside ramekins with butter and then dust with sugar. Reserve the ramekins in the fridge.
4. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the saucepan and add the flour. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes and whisk in the milk and add 3/4 cup sugar. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Whisk in the egg yolks, 1 at a time. Add the lemon juice and zest and reserve.
5. Put the egg whites and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks.
6. Using a rubber spatula, scoop one-third of the egg whites into the lemon mixture. Gently and quickly fold the whites in. Repeat this process 2 more times with the remaining whites. Be sure that the whites are fully combined and there are no streaks.
7. Carefully spoon the mixture into the chilled ramekins until they are about three-quarters of the way full. Run your finger around the rim of the ramekin to make sure that the edges are clean.
8. Place the filled ramekins on a sheet tray and into the preheated oven. Bake the souffles until the souffles have risen straight and tall over the rims of the ramekins, 13 to 15 minutes.
9. Serve immediately, topped with Creme Anglaise.
10. Creme Anglaise:
    1. Place the heavy cream in a small saucepan. Split the vanilla bean down one side and scrape the seeds out and put them in the heavy cream. Whisk in half the sugar. Place the pan on a medium heat and bring it to a boil.
    2. While the cream is heating, whisk together the egg yolks and remaining sugar.
    3. When the cream comes to a boil, pour half of it into the egg and sugar mixture, whisk it and then pour it IMMEDIATELY back into the saucepan. Whisk to combine.
    4. Bring the sauce to a boil and immediately remove it from the heat and chill.

Recipe courtesy Anne Burrell