Chocolate Soufflé with Chantilly Cream & Vanilla Ice Cream
Just the mention of chocolate soufflé can conjure up feelings of decadence and luxury. This magically airy, rich, complex dish that, served fresh out of the oven, perfectly completes any meal.
Ingredients
- soft unsalted butter · 3 tablespoons
- dark bittersweet chocolate, chopped or chips · ¾ cup
- eggs, separated to yolks and whites · 4 whole
- Pinch of cream of tartar (or Verjuice) ·
- Chantilly Cream (whipped cream & vanilla) ·
- brandy · ⅓ cup
- caster sugar · ⅓ cup
- Pinch of salt ·
- Vanilla ice-cream ·
- cup-sized ramekins · 4
- Electric mixer ·
- Saucepan ·
- Heatproof bowl to fit into saucepan ·
Instructions
Open Merlot to breathe and pour one glass for the cook, leaving one glass for each of the four people being served.
Generously coat four 7oz ramekins with soft butter and dust with extra sugar, shaking out excess sugar.
Bring some water to a boil in a saucepan. Once the water boils, reduce the heat until the water simmers. Place chocolate and brandy in a heatproof bowl over the saucepan of simmering water and stir occasionally until smooth. Using the electric mixer, whisk egg yolks into the chocolate mixture until it begins to stiffen.
Using electric mixer, whisk egg whites, a pinch of salt and the cream of tartar at medium speed until peaks droop slightly at tip (soft peaks). Now add sugar gradually while whisking at high speed until thick and pale and mixture holds a trail (stiff peak).
Fold half of the mixed egg whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen and then stir in the second half folding gently until thoroughly combined but avoid over-mixing. Spoon mixture into ramekins to within 0.4in~1cm of top of ramekins, then run a knife around inner edge to help soufflés rise evenly.
Place ramekins on an oven tray and bake in middle of preheated oven at 190C~375F for 10 minutes or until risen.
To serve, punch a small hole in top and insert the Chantilly Cream. Dust with confectioner's sugar and serve in ramekin immediately because the soufflé will deflate in less than two minutes. Serve with a side of vanilla ice cream.
