Classic Spinach and Cheese Souffle
Spinach and Cheese Souffle is a really delicious supper or lunch dish, it’s filling and really tasty. If you’ve never made a souffle before and are worried that it’s going to be difficult, then please don’t be, it’s really not that difficult as long as you don’t leave it waiting around too long after it comes out of the oven.
I don’t make souffles very often, but when I do I always think I should make them more often. The rich bechamel sauce with, breadcrumbs, spinach and cheese is made light and fluffy by the addition of beaten egg whites, it’s like eating cheesy clouds!
The lovely people at Barber’s 1833 Vintage Reserve Cheddar invited me to join them at the BBC Good Food Show before Christmas. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but instead, they sent me some Barber’s 1833 Vintage Reserve Cheddar and the ingredients to make a Spinach and Cheese Souffle.
First I’d like to say a little about the Barber’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar: this is one of the best cheddar cheeses that I have ever tasted. It had a little calcification (the crunchy bits you get in mature cheddars) but not too much, but the flavour of the cheddar was rich and tangy with an aftertaste that just makes you want to eat more! Beautiful stuff!
The Barber family have been farming and making cheese at Maryland Farm in Ditcheat, Somerset since 1833. In the early days, milk from the farm was sold locally and the cheese made was used to feed the family and farm workers. As time went on, the milk needed to make cheese increased and soon the family was buying milk from neighbouring farms as well.
Today the Barber farms comprise 2500 acres of prime Somerset dairy land and are home to some 2,000 dairy cows. They continue to use traditional ‘cheddaring’ techniques combined with a unique collection of traditional starter cultures for which they are sole guardians, to create a truly typical West Country Farmhouse cheddar.
The Spinach and Cheese Souffle was the ideal vehicle for this strong cheddar, only 100g is used but the souffle still tasted strongly of tangy cheddar. I also used some in a cheese sauce for cauliflower cheese and, again, a little went a long way. I can highly recommend this cheese and will be looking out for it again.
The Souffle was light and fluffy, with the fresh sharp taste of the spinach contrasting nicely with the richness of the cheese and eggs. A lovely dish, I do love a souffle, but not how much washing up it creates!
More Cheese Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Chorizo and Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese
Hot and Smoky Cheese and Tomato Wraps
Spinach, Mushroom and Blue Cheese Lasagne
PIN FOR LATER
Spinach and Cheese Soufflé
Ingredients
- 200 grams (7 oz) bag washed and ready to eat spinach 7oz
- 40 grams (1.5 oz) plain flour
- 300 grams (1.3 cups) milk half a pint
- 25 grams (1 oz) white breadcrumbs
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) Barbers 1833 Vintage Reserve Cheddar 3 and a half oz finely grated
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Dijon mustard
- Freshly grated nutmeg salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 (4) eggs separated
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Pierce the bag of spinach in several places and microwave on full power for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until wilted. Leave until cool enough to handle then squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Chop roughly.
- Melt the butter in a pan and stir in the flour. Cook stirring for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth then cook gently, stirring for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside to cool slightly.
- Brush 6-8 ramekins or small ovenproof dishes with melted butter and coat with breadcrumbs.
- Stir most of the cheese and the mustard into the sauce and season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Gradually stir in the egg yolks, then add the spinach.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until forming soft peaks. Take care not to allow them to become dry. Spoon two tablespoons of egg white into the cheese mixture to slacken the mixture then fold in the rest of the egg white with a metal spoon.
- Place the ramekins in a roasting tin and pour in boiling water to come half way up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 10-12 minutes until well risen and golden brown, but still with a little bit of a wobble!
It looks lovely and light.
Wow, I love a good souffle and this looks lovely! I might have to check out this cheddar too as it sounds like exactly the type of cheese I enjoy.
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A spinach and cheese souffle sounds great to me. Your souffle looks lovely.
how funny that we both posted cheddar recipes today!… yours looks so gorgeous and very chic… I love a souffle, all that lightness and creamy cheese… glad you liked your cheddar too, I'm such a massive cheese fiend!
Thanks all. Yes it was very light Corina and Chloe. Thanks Chris and Dom, love a bit of cheese and it's a classic combination.
I'm a bit of a cheese tart but I don't think you can beat a really decent cheddar, the stronger the better as far as I'm concerned! Your souffle looks lovely, I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to them and it's been years since I've made one.
Oh my goodness, I love the look of those soufflé! Light and creamy, perfect x
I would think the smaller amount of egg whites is to blend into the bechamel to lighten it before folding in the remainder of the egg whites.
Yes, I’m sure you are correct there.
Ooooh that looks divine, Janice. I'll need to give that cheese a try! 🙂