Spinach, Ham, and Parmesan Soufflé

| September 19, 2011

Episode 123: Eggs-quisite
Recipe: Spinach, Ham, and Parmesan Soufflé (Broccoli Rabe, Ham, and Parmesan Soufflé)

The Parmesan cheese and bread crumb crust and topping of this soufflé will be browner and crunchier when prepared in a gratin dish, making it easier to serve at the table. It can also be made in a conventional soufflé dish.

Leftover soufflé will reinflate when reheated in a 350-degree oven.

Spinach, Ham And Parmesan Soufflè

Serves 6 to 8 as a first course, 4 as a main course

10 ounces spinach, trimmed (can substitute 10 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed)
1 slice firm white bread, processed to crumbs in a food processor (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 large eggs, separated
2 large egg whites
4 ounces lean ham, cut into julienne strips (1 cup)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Wash the spinach (or broccoli rabe) and transfer it, still wet, to a skillet. Cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, until wilted. Remove from the heat and cool.

Drain the spinach (or broccoli rabe) and coarsely chop it; set aside.

Mix the bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese together in a small bowl.

Using 1 teaspoon of the butter, grease the sides and bottom of a 6-cup gratin dish. Add half of the bread crumb mixture and shake the dish until the crumbs coat the sides and bottom. Set aside.

Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons butter in a saucepan. Add the flour, mixing with a whisk, and cook over medium-high heat for about 30 seconds. Whisk in the milk, salt, and pepper, bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and cook, whisking, until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and whisk in the egg yolks. Add the reserved spinach (or broccoli rabe) and the ham and mix well.

Beat the 5 egg whites in a large bowl until firm but still soft. Fold them into the spinach (or broccoli rabe) mixture, along with the remaining tablespoon of cheese.

Pour the soufflé mixture into the prepared gratin dish and sprinkle the remaining bread crumb mixture on top.

Place the dish on a cookie sheet, and bake in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes, until the soufflé is set and the top is puffy and brown.

Spoon the soufflé directly from the gratin dish onto plates and serve immediately. (The soufflé can be unmolded from the dish by inverting it onto a plate, if you would prefer to present it in this way.)

Copyright © 2011 by Jacques Pépin. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

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Category: eggs, Recipes

About the Author ()

I was the Senior Digital Producer for KQED Food up until July, 2018.  Since 2001, I designed, produced, managed and contributed to mostly food-related websites and blogs for KQED including: KQED.org; KQED Food; Bay Area Bites; Check, Please! Bay Area;  Taste This; Celebrity Chefs; seven of Jacques Pepin's TV series websites; and Joanne Weir's Cooking in the City. I initiated the majority of KQED Food's social media feeds and maintained them up until 2017.  As far as content creation,  photography is my passion and I also shoot video and write stories. My photos have been used in articles for KQED Food, News, Arts, and Science as well as for promotional purposes in print and online. Professional education and training includes: clinical psychology, photography, commercial cooking, web design, information architecture and UX.

Comments (5)

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  1. Amy Glancy says:

    Question: The recipe talks about 1/2 c parmesan but only uses 1/4 c. Where does the rest go?

  2. TakeMeFishing says:

    Beat the 5 egg whites in a large bowl until firm but still soft. Fold them into the spinach (or broccoli rabe) mixture, along with the remaining tablespoon of cheese.

  3. MNLaurie says:

    I only used 3 eggs and it turned out fine.  And, surprisingly, the leftovers were very tasty–the flavors had a chance to really meld, and the texture was a little firmer. 

  4. Nicholas says:

    i tried this recipe twice in a large Ramekin and a glass Pyrex like Jacque used on the show. The flavor and texture were wonderful but it didn’t rise like it did for Jacque. Wish I knew why.

  5. Mark K. says:

    I’ve made this recipe twice and it is my first successful effort at a souffle. It is quite easy if you follow the instructions faithfully. I also used a copper bowl to make the egg whites and cleaned it as Jaques descibes on the segment. Thank you Jaques.