What other types of cheese can I use in this soufflé?

In place of the Gruyère cheese (which can be a bit pricey), try Cheddar, Fontina, another swiss cheese (like Emmental) or Jarlsberg . In place of the ricotta, try cottage cheese, preferably small curd. And drain it well, as cottage cheese has more moisture than ricotta. TIP: when substituting cottage cheese for ricotta, I like to whirl it around in the food processor to get it closer to the smooth texture of ricotta.

Can I use other vegetables in this cheese soufflé?

Yes, definitely! If asparagus isn’t in season (or you're not a fan), you can substitute an equal amount of cooked broccoli.

Can you make this soufflé ahead?

You can cook the asparagus earlier in the day , cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before proceeding. The good news is that the rest of the prep time on this recipe is minimal, so you can quickly put it together and pop it in the oven while enjoying a cocktail with your friends!

Asparagus Soufflé - A Well Seasoned Kitchen

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed (see Note below)
1 tablespoon oil (olive, canola, vegetable – all will work)
Butter, for greasing soufflé dishes
6 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
7 large eggs
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
8 ounces ricotta cheese (whole or part-skim)

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Instructions

Cut the asparagus into 1 to 1 1/2- inch pieces and place in a large skillet. Stir in oil; cover. Heat over medium high heat just until sizzling. Shake the pan (don’t take off the cover) and reduce heat down to medium-low. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or just until tender. Remove from pan; place on paper towel to drain and cool.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter six (6-ounce) ramekins or soufflé dishes. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Parmesan cheese into each dish. Roll the ramekin around so the cheese coats the sides and bottom. Place on a rimmed cookie sheet.
In a food processor, combine eggs, cream, Gruyere cheese, mustard, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Blend until smooth.
With the machine running, add asparagus pieces a few at a time. Gradually add ricotta cheese in spoonfuls and continue processing until smooth. Pour into prepared dishes.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Tip on removing tough asparagus ends: Asparagus spears have a tough end that needs to be removed before cooking. Grab the tough end with one hand (between your thumb and first finger). Grab the tip with your other hand and gently bend the tip end downward, holding the tough end still. The spear will snap in two at the right point, where the tough part stops. Discard tough ends (or reserve for another use).

Note on doubling this recipe: If you double this recipe, process it in two batches unless you have a very large food processor. I tried to do it all at once and ended up with soufflé batter all over my kitchen!

Author: From "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen®" by Sally Clayton and Lee Clayton Roper
Category: Side dish
Method: baking
Cuisine: French