Egg Soufflé Recipe

Master a French classic with very few ingredients and just 40 minutes of your time with this Egg Soufflé

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I remember growing up and hearing about soufflés and not knowing what they were, but I knew they were “classy”. As I got older and learned what a soufflé was, I realized immediately that they were delicious and I needed to know how to make them. I scoured my cookbooks and recipes for the perfect soufflé, eventually coming across this recipe for a classic egg soufflé with the basic steps I needed.

If you are at all like me, the origin of the soufflé was also a mystery to you. I can tell you that soufflés have been a part of French cuisine since the 1700s. It is impossible to pinpoint the exact origin of the soufflé or even this recipe in particular but no doubt many chefs have had a hand in its development. Fluffy and delicious with only six ingredients there are no special bells and whistles, this is just a simple take on a classic recipe.

Is Egg Soufflé Healthy?

The eggs in this recipe are a great source of protein and contain many nutrients including vitamin B12 and multiple antioxidants. The unsalted butter is rich in calcium and vitamins A, E, and K2 which benefit your skin, hair, and eye health. Meanwhile, the all-purpose flour is a source of carbohydrates, which provide energy for the body as well as containing iron and B vitamins. This recipe also uses skim milk, which helps keep the fat content low while still giving you an extra dose of calcium, too.

What is the best way to separate eggs?

To make the perfect soufflé you need to make sure you properly separate the eggs. If you have never separated eggs before there are a few tips that can make it easier. The easiest way to separate eggs is to use an egg separator, a simple tool that catches the yolk while letting the whites slip through. As simple as that is, not everyone has an egg separator, and you should not go buy one just for this.

Instead, I recommend using cold eggs. When an egg is cold the yolk and the whites each hold their structure better. Be sure to have multiple bowls, one for the whites, one for the yolks, and one for the shells. Crack the egg against the edge of the bowl to try and have a clean break without excessive shell shards. Once cracked and opened, use the shell halves to pass the yolk back and forth, careful not to break the yolk, allowing the whites to run into the bowl below.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup skim milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 large eggs, separated

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat

Prepare oven and baking dish.

Whisk

Beat egg whites to soft peaks.

Roux

Cook butter and flour; add milk and thicken.

Combine

Mix yolks, fold into whites, and bake.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

You can prepare your batter 2 days in advance and cover it in a bowl to be portioned and baked later. If your soufflé is already cooked you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat it in the oven until it is just warm throughout.

Can I add additional proteins to my soufflé?

As I said earlier, once you perfect this base soufflé recipe you can start to play with it and make additions. I love using chopped ham or chicken in this soufflé. You can also add chopped peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach for additional vitamins and nutrients.

How is a soufflé different from a quiche?

While soufflé and quiche are both baked breakfast dishes, the key difference is the way your eggs are prepared. For a quiche, you make a custard out of whole eggs and cream, while the soufflé utilizes whipped egg whites as a base. A quiche also has a crust while a soufflé does not.

Serving Suggestions

A soufflé is the perfect baked breakfast dish which is light and airy and can easily be enjoyed alone – but that does not mean it has to be.

You can easily pair this soufflé with a heartier breakfast item like Cornbread Waffles With Pulled Pork and Maple Apple Chutney. You could also have a breakfast appetizer before serving your soufflé. I like to serve Homemade Healthy Nachos: Breakfast Style to my family to start the meal before bringing out the soufflé. Another option would be a fruit-forward salad as a side, something like Strawberry Salad with Grilled Nectarines which complements the soufflé beautifully.