soufflé.

Ah, a soufflé—light, airy, and impressive! Here’s a classic cheese soufflé recipe you can try at home 🧀✨:

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 tablespoons butter (plus extra for greasing)

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 cup milk, warm

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

• 4 large eggs, separated

• ½ cup grated cheese (Gruyère, cheddar, or your favorite)

• Optional: pinch of cayenne or paprika for a little kick

Instructions

1. Preheat oven: 375°F (190°C) and butter a 4-cup soufflé dish. Dust lightly with flour or grated cheese.

2. Make the base (béchamel):

   • Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.

   • Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes until smooth.

   • Gradually whisk in warm milk, cooking until thickened (about 3–5 minutes).

   • Remove from heat, season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

   • Stir in egg yolks and cheese until smooth.

3. Beat egg whites:

   • In a clean bowl, whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form.

4. Fold egg whites:

   • Gently fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the cheese mixture to lighten it.

   • Carefully fold in the remaining egg whites, keeping as much air as possible.

5. Bake:

   • Pour mixture into the prepared soufflé dish.

   • Bake 25–30 minutes, or until puffed and golden on top.

   • Important: Do not open the oven during baking, or it may collapse.

6. Serve immediately:

   • Soufflés start to deflate after a few minutes, so serve right away!

💡 Tips:

• Make sure egg whites are beaten stiff but not dry.

• Gently fold whites to preserve the airiness.

• You can swap cheese for chocolate or fruit for a sweet version.