The Uncomplicated Coconut Souffle Recipes

TOASTED-COCONUT SOUFFLéS WITH RUBY-RED CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Bring all ingredients to boil in small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat; simmer until berries are soft, about 6 minutes. Pour mixture through strainer set over bowl, pressing on solids to extract liquid. Discard solids in strainer. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm sauce before using.
• For soufflés:
• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; whisk until bubbling but not brown, about 2 minutes. Gradually add coconut milk; whisk until mixture boils and thickens, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, rum, extract, and salt. Transfer to large bowl. Place plastic wrap directly onto surface of soufflé base. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature; whisk until smooth before continuing.
• Butter eight 3/4-cup custard cups or ramekins; sprinkle with sugar, tilting cups to coat completely and tapping out any excess. Place cups on rimmed baking sheet. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 21/2 tablespoons sugar and beat until medium-stiff peaks form. Add 1/4 of whites to coconut base and whisk until lightened. Add remaining whites in 2 additions and fold in with rubber spatula. Fold in crushed toasted coconut. Divide soufflé mixture among prepared cups; smooth tops. DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Bake soufflés until puffed and beginning to brown, about 18 minutes. Transfer 1 soufflé to each of 8 plates. Top with warm cranberry sauce and garnish with toasted coconut; serve immediately.
• Available at many supermarkets and at Indian, Southeast Asian, and Latin markets.

COCONUT SOUFFLES WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Butter six 3/4-cup custard cups (3 1/2 by 2 1/2inches) or a 1-quart shallow baking dish and coat with sugar, knocking out excess sugar.
• In a baking pan spread coconut evenly and toast until pale golden, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool coconut in pan on a rack. Toasted coconut may be made 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
• In a saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour. Cook roux, stirring, 3 minutes and whisk in coconut milk. Bring mixture to a boil, whisking constantly, and simmer, whisking occasionally, 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and whisk in lemon juice, coconut extract, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and cool mixture, its surface covered with a buttered round of wax paper. Chill coconut mixture until cold, at least 2 hours, and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• With a wooden spoon beat coconut mixture to loosen. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat whites with cream of tartar and a pinch salt until they just hold soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 4 tablespoons sugar, beating until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir one fourth whites into coconut mixture to lighten and fold in remaining whites and three fourths toasted coconut gently but thoroughly.
• Pour soufflé mixture into custard cups or baking dish and sprinkle with remaining toasted coconut. Run tip of a knife around edges of soufflés to aid rising. Bake soufflés in lower third of oven until puffed and golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes if using custard cups or 20 to 25 minutes if using baking dish.
• Make chocolate sauce while soufflés are baking:
• Chop chocolate. In a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate, stirring until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and stir in cream until combined well.
• Chocolate sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.
• Top soufflés with sauce and serve immediately.

THE UNCOMPLICATED COCONUT SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Mix eggs, cream, sugar and zest in an electric blender.
• Cut cream cheese into pieces and add to container with coconut.
• Blend at high speed for 10 seconds.
• Pour into a buttered 1 quart casserole or souffle dish.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 50 minutes.
• Blended mixture can be refrigerated up to 2 1/2 hours before baking; increase baking time to 1 hour.
• * To make a hot chocolate souffle, prepare as directed above, eliminating the orange zest and substituting 1 4 oz. package of German sweet chocolate,melted, for the coconut.