Swiss Chard SoufflÉ Recipes

SOUFFLé CASSEROLE OF CHARD, GOAT CHEESE, AND FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• Prepare a medium heat fire (375°F) in a wood-fired oven or cooker.
• Butter an 8-cup gratin dish and dust with the Parmesan. Cut out the chard stems, dice them, and set aside. Chop the chard leaves; you should have about 2 cups.
• Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and sauté the diced chard stems and shallots until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chard leaves, arugula, herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Sauté to wilt the greens, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• To make the béchamel sauce, combine the milk, bay leaf, and shallot in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, then remove from the heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and shallots. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the green onions and sauté for 1 minute. Add the flour and stir for 3 minutes. Stir in the Dijon mustard. Gradually stir in the steeped milk until the sauce is thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Stir the egg yolks into the béchamel sauce. Add the wilted greens and salt and pepper to taste. Add 3/4 cup of the goat cheese. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, glossy peaks form. Fold half of the egg whites into the béchamel mixture, then the remaining half. Spoon the soufflé mixture into the prepared dish.
• Top with the remaining goat cheese and the parsley. Place in the oven on a grate and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until firm to the touch and golden. Serve hot.

SWISS CHARD SOUFFLE WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Butter an eight-cup souffle dish and dust it with the bread crumbs. Set aside.
• Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy skillet. Add half the chopped onion and saute over medium heat until it is soft but not brown. Add the garlic and stir, then add the Swiss chard. Stir-fry the mixture over high heat until the Swiss chard has wilted, about five minutes.
• Chop the mixture in a food processor until very fine. Add the ricotta, flour and egg yolk, and process until smooth. Stir in one-half teaspoon of the thyme. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. (The souffle can be prepared ahead up to this point.)
• For the sauce, heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet and saute the remaining onion until it is soft but not brown. Stir in the tomatoes and cook over medium-high heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture is thick. Add the remaining thyme, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Beat the egg whites until they hold firm peaks. Stir one-third of the egg whites into the ricotta mixture, then fold the ricotta mixture into the remaining egg whites.
• Spoon the mixture into the dish. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees and bake about 25 minutes longer, until the souffle is puffed, lightly browned and firm.
• While the souffle is baking, reheat the tomato sauce. Serve at once, with the tomato sauce on the side.