1/29/11

{Falling in Love with Lebovitz} Sweet Goat Cheese Souffles

Sweet Goat Cheese Souffles {a la David Lebovitz}
Just in time for Valentine's Day, I've discovered something the rest of you have no doubt known for years...


David Lebovitz is a master dessert artisan.


I know, I know.. Where have I been?? Make no mistake, I've known of David Lebovitz, but I hadn't previously made any of his recipes. As usual, I have no idea what I was waiting for, but I'm happy to have finally come around. And just in time for V-day, I'm falling in love with his recipes, one at a time.  Let's start with his Goat Cheese Souffles.

So how did I happen upon this recipe and decide to make it? Well, my friend Elizabeth McNair who, btw, has been a fan of his for quite some time, mentioned she had scored a ticket to see him live and in person at a demo he was doing in Dallas, Texas at Central Market.



I was thrilled for her to get to go, but little did I know how thrilled I would be for me.. THANK YOU E for sending me this recipe. It's to die for. It's light and airy but with a lightly creamy soft lemony center. David says in his post that you can make it as sweet as you like by adding more sugar to the base. Instead I opted to add extra sugar to the inside of my souffle dishes as well as extra on top. The result was nothing short of Heavenly.

heavily sugared souffle dishes

I used Native's Crystal Organic Sugar that I picked up at Whole Foods and the larger crystals worked perfectly for these souffles. He also mentions that you can drizzle a little fresh-squeezed lemon juice atop the souffles before placing in the oven to give them an extra lemony zing. I will try this next time I make them, but the flavor was nothing short of amazing even without doing so. Also, David's recipe calls for 4 4-ounce souffle dishes but since I only had 8-ounce souffle dishes, I made 2 larger desserts. I actually had leftover batter, too.

Sweet Goat Cheese Souffles
{adapted from David Lebovitz}

Serves 2-4

Oven 400 degrees F

Special equipment - 2 8-ounce souffle dishes or 4 4-ounce

1/4 cup full fat organic cream cheese, room temperature
4 large organic all-natural eggs, room temperature (separate eggs from yolks right before using)
4 ounces fresh organic goat cheese
zest of 1 lemon
4 Tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling
pinch of salt
butter for coating souffle dishes


If you don't have one of these Microplane zesters, may I suggest trying
one out? They make zesting so much easier than any other zester I've used.

Generously butter and sugar the insides of your souffle dishes and set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or you may whisk by hand), place the cream cheese, egg yolks, goat cheese, and lemon zest in the bowl and mix until creamy. Set aside.

Next, using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, place the egg whites and salt in a glass or metal bowl and beat until frothy. Increase the speed on the mixer and continue mixing until they begin to hold their shape. While beating, gradually add in the sugar, one tablespoon at a time and beat until stiff.

Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the goat cheese mixture. Do not over fold. It's okay to have some white bits showing.



Scoop the mixture into the the prepared souffle dishes to just below the top of the dishes and gently smooth the tops. Don't overfill, or your batter will spill over when baking. Sprinkle the tops with sugar (I did this liberally and it was yummy). Place filled dishes on a baking sheet and place in oven in center of middle rack.

I overfilled my souffle dishes and they spilled over when baking,
but they were still fantastic.

Bake 10 - 15 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned and the center still feels a little jiggly when gently moving from side to side. Serve fresh from the oven with fresh blueberries or raspberries on the side if desired. The souffles should be soft and slightly runny in the center.

I can't wait to make these again for Valentine's Day!

Do you have a favorite David Lebovitz recipe?

23 comments:

  1. Vernonica,

    The soufflé looks amazing! He's very talented and his recipes are great. I'm glad it turned out so well for you. Another winner! Love your version! it looks good enough to eat through this screen.

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  2. I've never tried one of his recipes! These look beyond incredible ..... yumm!! I tried to find souffle dishes the other day and everywhere was either out or didn't carry them!

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  3. Yummy...these look like a little dish of ooey-gooey lemony goodness! Souffles always make me a little anxious, but maybe I should try to make one since you make it look so easy!

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  4. hi Veronica
    I love goat cheese, those souffles must have been delicious! I need to read more David Lebovitz!
    Cheers
    Dennis

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  5. Gorgeous...I am literally speechless! Looks so so delicious!

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  6. I LOVE those sugared cups!! My mom just gave me that same little microplane, don't you just love it too?
    These little souffles looks so tempting, the cheese is a wonderful addition. Thanks!

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  7. Veronica - these little souffles look amazing. I am a huge fan of David Lebovitz, and you will be so happy now that you have discovered his genius. One of my favourite DL recipes is this frozen lemon yoghurt http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-icecreamrec1a-2009apr01,0,3309165.story and I also use his basic vanilla ice cream as a base for almost all my ice creams.
    Sue :-)

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  8. Wow! This looks great! Kind of random, but I love your lemon zester.

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  9. This looks amazing! I have just found a local (in Andalucia) producer of goats ricotta and was thinking about a dessert to make with it. Like maybe a honey cheesecake but this looks perfect, thank you!!

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  10. Beautiful photos. Fancy a taste right now!

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  11. These souffles are so beautiful! I'm inspired to try one with goat cheese. They look absolutely perfect. Thanks for pointing me your direction - You have a beautiful blog!

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  12. this is delicious. goat cheese should be everywhere...definitely in souffles.

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  13. mmm they are beautiful. i would love to check out that cookbook!

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  14. Amazing recipe and beautiful photos and post- love it!

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  15. Oh man I have tried several of his recipes before, and they were always fabulous! His ice creams are particularly to die for, but most of the recipes in Sweet Life have me drooling. You should def get the book and read it because it will make you hungry but also make you laugh out loud (esp if you have ever been to paris!) Your friend was SO lucky to meet him and get the signed book!

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  16. Looks wonderful! I have yet to try to make a souffle, but now I so need to!! I love goat cheese!

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  17. My husband is coming home from an Air Force deployment this week. We are goat cheese fanatics! I've never thought of making a souffle out of this creamy delicious cheese, thanks!

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  18. These look fantastic! David Lebovitz is awesome. I have made quite a few of his ice creams, I will have to try some of this other desserts too! Beautiful job!

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  19. this sounds so yummy! you did an amazing job:) thanks for sharing this with us.

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  20. The pictures are amazing.. inspired me to try to make it..
    http://bhalokhabo.blogspot.com

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  21. i love goat cheese but never thought of using it to make souffle. yours looks so creamy and delicious.
    thanks for sharing Veronica, have a wonderful Friday

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  22. Ok! Yum yum and YUM!!!! I'm sold.

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  23. fabulous post as always...i have 4 oz of goat cheese waiting for this delicious treat. thanks for the great "how-to and when-to" photos

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