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cheese souffle - what to serve them along with?

post #1 of 18
12/16/09 at 1:46pm
Thread Starter 
OK so tonight I'm making cheese souffle for the very first time in my life (wish me good luck)!

I'm wondering if anyone has any great idea of items that I could serve with the souffles? They will be made in individual ramekins.

At the top of my head, I'm thinking it would go great with a salad, maybe walnuts in the salad, and some prosciutto. But I'd love to hear other ideas!

Thanks.
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post #2 of 18
12/16/09 at 2:17pm
When I make cheese souffle - I usually serve with melba toast - and that's it - no salad or anything else.
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post #3 of 18
12/16/09 at 3:27pm
I've often served them alone for Sunday lunch. Dinnertime, i'd want more textural variation so a salad or a crudite platter or something like that.
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post #4 of 18
12/16/09 at 3:40pm
watercress with a walnut oil dressing
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post #5 of 18
12/16/09 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Hmmm that sounds really good. :smiles:
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post #6 of 18
12/16/09 at 6:35pm
A salad immediately came to mind, with romaine lettuce, orange slices, sweet red onion slices, fennel and pecans, with a raspberrry viniagrette, and crusty french bread.
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post #7 of 18
12/16/09 at 7:11pm
Thread Starter 
That sounds good too.. perhaps a bit too much with the raspberry vinaigrette, orange, pecans and everything... but I like the romaine, orange, red onion and fennel. Might try that one day!

OK SO! The souffles were really good. For a first, I'm very happy. Bit more salt, bit more cooking time or smaller ramekins and they would have been heavenly. I'm really proud! Light, fluffy, tasted like Comte cheese which was the main ingredients, really good.

Problem was, I was paying so much attention to my souffles, I quickly did a vinaigrette for the salad and put in too much vinegar. So the salad was out of this world - in a bad way. Like "OMG WTF is THAT???" out of this world. :roll:My wife couldn't finish her salad so I finished the whole thing.

No time to open the walnuts I bought - next time... or perhaps with some apples as desert in a few minutes?? Hmmm decisions decisions. :smoking:
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post #8 of 18
12/17/09 at 8:37am
With those salad ingredients I would definitely add pears, it would work very well with the cheese souffle.
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post #9 of 18
12/17/09 at 12:20pm
My thought was that you might like some textural interest and flavor counterpoint to the creamy richness of the cheese souffle. The crunch of the crisp lettuce and perhaps only one or two of the other ingredients, plus the nuts or some croutons is probably enough.

That just happens to be my all-time favorite salad to make at home, so I serve it whether it's appropriate or not. It doesn't need to be a huge, stand-alone salad. It can be served more as a side dish too.

I've never attempted making souffles, so I'm filled with admiration for your courage and success. Congratulations! :thumb:
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post #10 of 18
12/17/09 at 12:39pm
Thread Starter 
Way to go! I do that a lot too. :roll:

Well the souffles really weren't that hard to make. I just made one critical mistake, which was to trust the recipe 100% and not taste the batter before baking them. I should have known better since they were a bit underseasoned. But since it was my first time, I thought I'd follow the recipe to a T for the first time.

But the basic techniques are to make a Béchamel (or Mornay for cheese soufflé: Mornay = Béchamel+grated cheese), then incorporate the egg yolks, whip the egg whites and incorporate them (that's the tricky part, and you just have to be soft and delicate, and patient).

Another good tip was to put them in the oven for 5mn, then take them out and with the tip of a knife, make sure none of the sides stick to the ramekins. Then put them back. Set them free to rise!!
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post #11 of 18
12/17/09 at 10:06pm
I seem to remember that we always had grape jelly with the souffles, a few years ago. Bazza's suggestion of pears sounds like a very good idea. Next souffle, that's what I will do, along with the jelly.

Mike
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post #12 of 18
12/17/09 at 11:28pm
We serve our (Blue cheese and spinach) souffle's with bitter greens garnished with pear vin, sliced asian pear, and toasted walnuts. It's nothing fancy but it does the trick.
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post #13 of 18
2/5/12 at 8:31am

What if your not a salad fan? What would you serve with a cheese souffle then?

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post #14 of 18
2/5/12 at 2:54pm

As I said - melba toast!

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post #15 of 18
2/6/12 at 6:46am

Something bitter is needed for me to even finish a cheese souffle.  Beer or wine for sure.  A bowl of (or salad containing) craisins and toasted almonds can break up that richness and provide some crunch.

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post #16 of 18
2/6/12 at 7:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by foodie newbie View Post

What if your not a salad fan? What would you serve with a cheese souffle then?

Think of a cheese souffle as a cheese sandwich with a little milk, a cheese omelet, or perhaps "mac and cheese" made with whatever cheese(s) you're using for the souffle. What goes well with those will do just fine with the souffle. Don't make such a big deal out of it.

BDL
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post #17 of 18
2/6/12 at 7:14am

A solo roasted vegetable. Kohlrabi, asparagus, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts. A solo grilled green. Kale, chard or collards.

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post #18 of 18
2/7/12 at 2:15pm

Because cheese has own salty flavour naturally i think, that best to go with souffle is some crunching salad with apple or pear like people are saying . I would like some peanuts too with those ingredients. 

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