Cheese Souffle
A classic cheese soufflé of béchamel, egg yolks, gruyere and whisked whites, cooked for 30 minutes until risen and golden. Four servings in 55 minutes.
Photograph credit: Soufflé (image of cheese soufflé on Wikidata Q47527989) by Pierre-alain dorange · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · this resized copy is shared under the same licence
The Method for Cheese Souffle
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Heat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. Butter a 1.5 litre soufflé dish and dust with the parmesan.
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Melt the butter, stir in the flour for 1 minute, then whisk in the milk and simmer for 3 minutes until thick. Cool for 5 minutes.
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Beat in the yolks, gruyere, mustard, salt and pepper.
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Whisk the whites to firm peaks, fold a quarter into the base, then fold in the rest. Pour into the dish and cook for 30 minutes. Serve at once.
Keep an Eye on These
- Use a spotless bowl for the whites.
- Fold gently.
- Do not open the oven door.
- Serve it straight away.
Good to Know About Cheese Souffle
A soufflé is a sauce with air in it, and it falls the moment the air cools. That is the whole drama: you make it, and it rises, and you serve it at once.
The base is a thick béchamel, cooled for a few minutes, then beaten with egg yolks and cheese. Season it boldly, since the whites dilute the flavour.
Whisk the whites in a clean bowl to firm, glossy peaks. Any grease stops them rising, so wipe the bowl with lemon and use no yolk at all. Stir a quarter into the base to loosen it, then fold in the rest gently with a metal spoon.
Pour into a buttered dish dusted with parmesan. The coating gives the batter something to climb. Cook at 190°C for 30 minutes without opening the door. If your oven runs hot, check at 25 minutes. Serve the moment it comes out. Have the guests seated before it goes in, because it waits for no one.
To Go With It
Green salad · Dijon vinaigrette · Crusty bread · Dry white wine
Leftovers
Best eaten straight from the oven.
Quick Answers
How long does Cheese Souffle take to make?
About 55 minutes in total — 25 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Cheese Souffle?
Use a spotless bowl for the whites. Fold gently. Do not open the oven door. Serve it straight away.
What should I serve with Cheese Souffle?
Green salad; Dijon vinaigrette; Crusty bread; Dry white wine.
Is Cheese Souffle suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
The Numbers per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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