Best Red Pepper Cornmeal Souffle Recipes

FRESH CORN SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Butter a 2-quart round or oval baking dish (such as a 10- x 2-inch round) and coat with 2 ounces of the Gruyère or Comté. The cheese will not cover the inside of the baking dish completely. There will be gaps. For beating the egg whites, you can use a stand mixer, an electric hand mixer, or a manual rotary egg-beater.
• It's best to use a metal bowl. Wash the bowl and beater in hot soapy water; rinse well and dry. Bowl and beater must be grease-free. Adjust an oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Put 4 tablespoons of the butter into a large skillet (12-inch) over medium heat. When hot, add the garlic and cook about 15 seconds, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the corn, red bell pepper, and jalapeño and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers and corn are partly tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Combine the milk and half and half in a medium heavy saucepan (3-quart) and bring to he boil over medium heat. Watch carefully so the liquid doesn't overflow the pan. Keep the liquid hot on low heat. (Or, just heat the milk and half and half in a 2-cup heatproof measure (such as Pyrex®) with pouring spout for 2 minutes in a microwave oven).
• In another medium saucepan (3-quart), melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 2 minutes. Take the pan off the heat, wait a few seconds for the bubbling to subside, and pour in the hot liquid all at once.
• Whisk vigorously to make a smooth béchamel sauce. Return the pan to medium heat and bring to the boil, whisking constantly. Cook at the boil for 2 minutes until very thick. Off heat, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Whisk the egg yolks in one or two at a time.
• Transfer the soufflé base to a large bowl. Stir it occasionally with a heatproof flexible spatula until tepid. The base must not be hot when you fold in the beaten egg whites and cheese.
• For the egg whites. Start beating on medium speed, and beat until the whites are frothy, about 1 minute. Add the cream of tartar or lemon juice-the acid stabilizes the whites-and continue beating until the whites form moist-looking peaks that stand up straight or curl just a tiny bit at their tips.
• Slowly tilt the bowl to make sure the whites are staying put. If they slide around, beat a few seconds longer. As soon as you can turn the bowl upside down with the whites staying put, they're beaten just right. Do not overbeat or the whites will be too stiff.
• Whisk about 1/4 of the whites into the tepid soufflé base just to lighten it. Gently fold in the remaining whites in two additions, followed by the cooled corn and peppers and 3 ounces of Gruyère or Comté. Be gentle to maintain as much air in the whites as possible.
• Scrape the soufflé batter into the prepared dish-it will be almost full. Sprinkle the remaining ounce of cheese on top and place the soufflé in the oven. Bake 30 minutes, until the soufflé has puffed up to double its volume and is well-browned on the top and sides. A wooden skewer plunged into the center of the soufflé should come out clean.
• Serve as soon as you can. But do not worry. The soufflé will not collapse. It will just settle a bit. Refrigerate leftovers. To reheat, cut the cold soufflé into slices and reheat each serving on a plate for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes in a microwave oven. Delicious!

CORNBREAD SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter six 4-ounce souffle ramekins with the melted butter using a pastry brush with an upward motion. Sprinkle the 1 tablespoon Parmesan into the 6 ramekins to coat. Run a finger around the inside lip of the ramekins to clean off any excess, so that the souffle rises more evenly.
• Mix 1/2 cup milk with the cornmeal in a small bowl. Bring the remaining cup milk and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to a boil over medium heat in a small pot, then add the cornmeal mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Let cool slightly, then mix in the egg yolks, salt, cayenne and the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Beat the egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer, on medium-high speed until they hold soft peaks.
• Gently fold the egg whites into the cornmeal mixture and divide among the prepared ramekins. Put them on a baking sheet and bake until they have puffed and risen and the tops are browned and firm, about 25 minutes. Serve hot within 5 to 10 minutes (the souffles may deflate slightly).

CHEDDAR, ONION, AND RED BELL PEPPER SOUFFLéD OMELET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cook onion and bell pepper in butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until softened. Add milk and bring to a boil. Add cornmeal in a slow stream, whisking, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.
• Whisk in cheese, parsley, yolks, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Beat whites with cream of tartar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until they just hold stiff peaks. Fold one fourth of whites into cornmeal mixture to lighten, then fold cornmeal mixture gently but thoroughly into remaining whites. Spoon mixture into a greased 3-quart casserole and smooth top.
• Bake in middle of oven until puffed and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

RED PEPPER CORNMEAL SOUFFLE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the onion and red pepper in butter until tender. Add the milk. Bring to a boil. Gradually whisk in cornmeal; whisk constantly until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add 1 cup of the cornmeal mixture to the egg yolks; mix well. Return all to saucepan.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and remaining salt until stiff peaks form. Fold into the cornmeal mixture. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. souffle dish. Bake at 375 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

RED PEPPER CORNMEAL SOUFFLE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the onion and red pepper in butter until tender. Add the milk. Bring to a boil. Gradually whisk in cornmeal; whisk constantly until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add 1 cup of the cornmeal mixture to the egg yolks; mix well. Return all to saucepan.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and remaining salt until stiff peaks form. Fold into the cornmeal mixture. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. souffle dish. Bake at 375 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

CREAMY CORN SOUP WITH RED BELL PEPPER

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion and garlic; sauté until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices to pot; cook 2 minutes. Combine 2 cups water and chipotle chilies in blender and puree. Mix puree and cream-style corn into vegetables in pot. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add frozen corn, cream and oregano; simmer 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.
• *Chipotle chilies canned in a spicy tomato sauce, sometimes called adobo, are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets.