Blue Cheese And Walnut Souffles And Mesclun With Red Pepper Vinaigrette Recipes

BLUE CHEESE SOUFFLES

Steps:

• Prepare the ramekins: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush four 8-ounce ramekins with butter. Pour the sugar into 1 ramekin and rotate it to coat the bottom and sides. Pour the excess into another ramekin and repeat to coat all the ramekins; tap out any excess. Refrigerate until ready to fill.
• Make the bechamel: Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat. Just as the foam subsides, whisk in the flour to make a roux; cook, whisking constantly, to remove the starchy taste, 2 to 3 minutes (do not allow the roux to brown). Add the warm milk and continue whisking until smooth and thick, about 5 minutes. (Trace a figure 8 in the bechamel with the whisk; if the sauce holds the shape, it's done.)
• Flavor the bechamel: Remove the bechamel from the heat and whisk in the egg yolks one at a time. Season with salt, white pepper and the nutmeg, then whisk in the cheese until melted and smooth. (Return the pot to very low heat, if necessary.) Transfer to a large bowl and refrigerate until cool.
• Add the egg whites: Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with a whisk or mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold one-third of the beaten egg whites into the cooled bechamel mixture by slowly and gently scooping from the bottom to the top of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Fold in the remaining egg whites the same way until no streaks of white remain.
• Bake the souffles: Place the prepared ramekins on a baking sheet. Spoon the batter into the ramekins, filling each about three-fourths of the way. Use a towel to wipe the rims clean (this will help the souffles rise evenly). Bake until golden and puffed at least 1 inch over the rims, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately with fig compote and other garnishes (see below).
• Tyler dresses up his souffles with honeycomb, chamomile flowers, microgreens and this fig topping:
• Fig Compote: Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 lemon slices and 2 chamomile tea bags in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Add 12 halved dried figs, return to a boil and cook 10 more minutes. Remove the lemon slices. Serve warm.

BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUT SOUFFLES AND MESCLUN WITH RED PEPPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make soufflés:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. and generously butter six 1/2-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups.
• In a small bowl stir together walnuts and 1/2 tablespoon flour. Coat soufflé dishes or custard cups with walnut mixture, knocking out excess.
• In a small heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in remaining 3 1/2 tablespoons flour. Cook roux, whisking constantly, 3 minutes and add milk in a stream, whisking. Bring mixture to a boil over moderate heat, whisking, and cook until thickened, about 30 seconds.
• Remove pan from heat and transfer mixture to a bowl. Cool mixture slightly. Whisk cheese, yolks, black pepper, and salt to taste into milk mixture until cheese is melted.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat whites until they just hold stiff peaks. Stir one third of whites into cheese mixture to lighten and fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
• Divide soufflé mixture among prepared soufflé dishes or cups and put in a large baking pan just large enough to hold them. Add enough hot water to pan to reach halfway up sides of soufflés dishes or cups and bake soufflés in middle of oven until puffed and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove pan from oven and let soufflé dishes or cups stand in pan 15 minutes. (Soufflés will fall.)
• Lightly butter a baking sheet.
• Remove soufflé dishes or cups from pan and run a knife around edge of each dish or cup, carefully lifting edge of each soufflé slightly to help release it from bottom. Invert soufflé onto hand and carefully put, top side up, onto prepared baking sheet. Soufflés may be prepared up to this point 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.
• Increase temperature to 425°F.
• Bake soufflés in middle of oven until puffed slightly and heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Make vinaigrette while soufflés are baking.
• In a bowl toss mesclun with vinaigrette and divide among 6 salad plates. Arrange soufflés among 6 salad plates. Arrange soufflés along side of mesclun and garnish with bell peppers and flowers.

BLUE CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Butter the inside of an 8-cup souffle dish (7 1/2 inches in diameter and 3 1/4 inches deep) and sprinkle evenly with Parmesan.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. With a wooden spoon, stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Off the heat, whisk in the hot milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, the cayenne, and nutmeg. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, until smooth and thick.
• Off the heat, while still hot, whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time. Stir in the Roquefort and the 1/4 cup of Parmesan and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Put the egg whites, cream of tartar, and a pinch of salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on low speed for 1 minute, on medium speed for 1 minute, then finally on high speed until they form firm, glossy peaks.
• Whisk 1/4 of the egg whites into the cheese sauce to lighten and then fold in the rest. Pour into the souffle dish, then smooth the top. Draw a large circle on top with the spatula to help the souffle rise evenly, and place in the middle of the oven. Turn the temperature down to 375 degrees F. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes (don't peek!) until puffed and brown. Serve immediately.

BLUE CHEESE WALNUT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and blue cheese until fluffy. Add 1 cup of sour cream until blended. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in pepper. Pour into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until center is almost set (top may crack). Let stand on a wire rack for 5 minutes; spread with remaining sour cream. Bake 5 minutes longer., Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Sprinkle with walnuts. Garnish with grapes, star fruit and herbs if desired. Serve with crackers. Refrigerate leftovers.

BLUE CHEESE, WALNUT, AND CHICORY SALAD

Steps:

• Stir or toss walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat until very hot to the touch and toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Mix Dijon mustard, rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and pepper together in a bowl for dressing. Pour in olive oil, about 1 teaspoon at a time, whisking constantly, until thick and coats the back of a spoon. Taste and adjust as necessary.
• Cut radicchio in half; cut out the core using 2 angled cuts. Cut each half in half again and slice across into about 1-inch pieces. Slice root ends off of endive and peel off about 1/3 of the leaves, leaving them whole for presentation. Slice remaining endive into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Transfer all radicchio and endive to a bowl and toss, making sure leaves are separated and evenly distributed. Crumble in about 1/2 of the walnuts and 1/2 of the blue cheese. Pour in dressing and toss with your hands until everything is perfectly coated.
• Place whole endive spears on a serving plate. Pile salad on top and scatter remaining walnuts and blue cheese on top.

BLUE CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Coat a 2-qt. souffle dish with cooking spray and lightly sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese; set aside., In a small saucepan, combine flour and seasonings. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 minute longer or until thickened. Reduce heat. Stir in blue cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese. Remove from the heat; transfer to a large bowl., Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the bowl, stirring constantly. Allow to cool slightly., In another large bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. With a spatula, stir a fourth of the egg whites into cheese mixture until no white streaks remain. Fold in remaining egg whites until combined. , Transfer to prepared dish. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until the top is puffed and center appears set. Serve immediately.

GREEN SALAD WITH DRIED FIGS, BLUE CHEESE, WALNUTS, AND SHERRY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place the salad greens, figs, walnuts, and dressing in a bowl and toss. Divide among plates and crumble the blue cheese on top of each salad.
• Sherry Vinaigrette
• Whisk together the shallot, vinegar, preserves, capers, and mustard in a small bowl. Whisk in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Taste for balance, and add a little more olive oil, if you like. Season with salt and pepper.

BLUE CHEESE WALNUT TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Brush one side of each slice of bread with melted butter, and place butter side up on a baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes, or until lightly toasted.
• In a small bowl, stir together the blue cheese, softened butter, salt and pepper. Spread this mixture over the tops of the toasted bread slices, then sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
• Bake for 6 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the topping is melted and bubbly. Arrange on a serving tray and garnish with chopped parlsley.

CREAMY BLUE CHEESE DIP WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
• In a medium bowl, combine blue cheese, buttermilk, mayonnaise, chives, shallot, lemon juice and paprika. Stir to blend, then season with salt and pepper.
• Just before serving, stir in chopped walnuts and top with more chives. Enjoy with celery, cabbage and saltine crackers.