Swiss Chard SoufflÉ Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cover the porcini mushrooms with hot water and let stand until they are softened, about 20 minutes. Lift the porcini from the water, squeeze dry and coarsely chop. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°. In a medium saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over moderate heat. Stir in the flour until blended. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring the béchamel to a boil over moderately high heat, whisking constantly until slightly thickened. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until no floury taste remains and the béchamel is very thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Transfer the béchamel to a large bowl and, while it is still hot, whisk in the pecorino and egg yolks. In a large skillet, cook the Swiss chard over moderately high heat in batches, one handful at a time, until the leaves are wilted, about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer the chard to a colander to cool, then squeeze dry. Coarsely chop the chard. In the same large skillet, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the Swiss chard and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until it's heated through and coated with butter, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the chopped chard into the béchamel along with the porcini mushrooms, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Butter an 8-cup ceramic soufflé dish. In a large stainless steel bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until firm peaks form. Fold one-third of the beaten whites into the chard mixture, then fold in the remaining whites. Scrape the batter into the prepared dish and run your thumb around the inside of the rim to help the soufflé rise evenly. Bake until the soufflé rises and is golden brown on top and slightly soft in the center, about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Serve right away.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a nine-inch quiche pan with pastry. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Rinse the Swiss chard and chop it fine.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet, add the onion and saute until just turning golden. Add the Swiss chard and continue to saute about 10 minutes, until the Swiss chard has wilted. Stir in the currants and season with Cayenne pepper and salt. Spread the Swiss chard mixture into the prepared quiche pan.
• Beat the eggs and mix with the cream and milk. Pour over the Swiss chard in the pan. Sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake about 40 minutes, until puffed and browned. Serve warm or cool.

Steps:

• Stack chard leaves on top of one another (you can make several piles) and slice them into 1/4-inch strips.
• Heat oil in a very large skillet (or use a soup pot). Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds, until garlic is fragrant. Stir in the chard, coating it in oil. Cover pan and let cook for about 2 minutes, until chard is wilted. Uncover, stir and cook for 2 minutes longer. Season with salt.

Steps:

• Butter an eight-cup souffle dish and dust it with the bread crumbs. Set aside.
• Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy skillet. Add half the chopped onion and saute over medium heat until it is soft but not brown. Add the garlic and stir, then add the Swiss chard. Stir-fry the mixture over high heat until the Swiss chard has wilted, about five minutes.
• Chop the mixture in a food processor until very fine. Add the ricotta, flour and egg yolk, and process until smooth. Stir in one-half teaspoon of the thyme. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. (The souffle can be prepared ahead up to this point.)
• For the sauce, heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet and saute the remaining onion until it is soft but not brown. Stir in the tomatoes and cook over medium-high heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture is thick. Add the remaining thyme, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Beat the egg whites until they hold firm peaks. Stir one-third of the egg whites into the ricotta mixture, then fold the ricotta mixture into the remaining egg whites.
• Spoon the mixture into the dish. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees and bake about 25 minutes longer, until the souffle is puffed, lightly browned and firm.
• While the souffle is baking, reheat the tomato sauce. Serve at once, with the tomato sauce on the side.