Apricot Soufflé Recipes

SOUFFLé OMELET WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce, in a medium saucepan combine the sugar, orange juice and vanilla bean seeds or vanilla extract and bring to a boil. Reduce by a third. Add the apricots, turn the heat down to medium and simmer 5 to 10 minutes, until the apricots are soft. Remove from the heat and divide among 4 plates or pour the sauce onto a platter and arrange the apricots on the edge.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Have the platter for your omelet close at hand.
• Whisk the egg whites in a clean dry bowl or in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. When they begin to foam, add the cream of tartar and continue to whisk at medium speed until they form medium peaks. Continue whisking on medium speed while you slowly add the sugar, until the egg whites form stiff, satiny but not dry peaks.
• In another large bowl, beat the egg yolks and add the Cointreau, salt and nutmeg. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into this mixture, then gently fold in the rest.
• Heat a 10-inch skillet that can go into the oven over medium-high heat. Add the butter to the hot pan, and when the foam subsides and the butter is just beginning to color, gently scrape in the egg mixture, using a rubber spatula. Do not stir. Immediately transfer to the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, until puffed. Remove from the heat, sprinkle half the toasted almonds over the omelet and slide or turn out onto the platter, folding the puffed omelet in half as you do. Sprinkle with the remaining toasted almonds and dust with powdered sugar if you wish. Spoon onto the plates with the apricot sauce and serve. Note: You can also serve the apricot sauce separately and spoon it over the soufflé.

APRICOT SOUFFLES WITH VANILLA RUM CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• To make the apricot soufflé:
• In a heavy saucepan simmer apricots, water, and 1/2 cup sugar, covered, 20 minutes. Transfer hot mixture to a food processor and purée until very smooth. Force purée through a fine sieve into a bowl and stir in lemon juice, rum, vanilla, a pinch salt. Cool purée completely. Purée may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered,. Bring to room temperature before proceeding. Transfer purée to a large bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 7-ounce (3 1/2- by 1 3/4 - inch) ramekins and coat with additional sugar, knocking out excess.
• In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat whites with pinch of salt until foamy. Beat in cream of tartar and beat whites until they hold soft peaks. Beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar, a little at a time, and beat meringue until it just holds stiff peaks. Whisk about one forth meringue into purée to lighten and fold in remaining meringue gently but thoroughly. Ladle batter into ramekins and bake soufflés on a baking sheet in middle of oven 20 to 25 minutes, or until puffed, golden brown, and just set in center.
• Remove ramekins from oven. With 2 forks pull open center of each soufflé and pour some crème anglaise into each opening. Serve soufflés immediately.
• To make the vanilla rum crème anglaise:
• In a small heavy saucepan bring half-and-half just to a boil with vanilla bean and remove pan from heat. Scrape seeds from bean with a knife into half-and-half, reserving pod for another use if desired.
• In a bowl whisk together yolks, sugar, and a pinch of salt and whisk in hot half-and-half in a stream. Return custard to pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thickened (170°F. on a candy thermometer), but do not let boil. Pour sauce through a fine sieve into a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally. Stir in rum. Chill sauce, covered, until very cold, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. Makes about 2 1/4 cups.

APRICOT SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Generously butter a 1-quart soufflé or gratin dish and coat with a thin layer of sugar. Preheat the oven to 425°F and position an oven rack in the center of the oven. In a medium bowl combine: 1/2 cup Pastry Cream (opposite), 6 tablespoons Apricot Jam (page 385), A few drops of almond extract.
• Mix well and set aside. In a large copper or stainless-steel bowl, combine: 6 egg whites, at room temperature, A pinch of salt.
• Whisk until soft peaks form. Add: 2 teaspoons cornstarch.
• Beat a few more seconds, then sprinkle on: 1/3 cup sugar.
• Continue to beat the whites for a few more seconds. Quickly but gently fold the egg whites into the apricot mixture until just blended. Pour the soufflé mixture into the prepared dish. Place the dish in the middle of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until it is puffed and browned. Serve immediately with heavy cream or Vanilla Pouring Custard (page 198), if you like.