Chocolate Soufflés

Watching TV has becomes my main activity at night, there is not much activities in Auckland it is basically a dead city when the dark set in. I have been watching the show Masterchef Australia, Junior Masterchef Australia as well as Masterchef NZ. Last week, Nadia Lim won the 2nd Season Masterchef NZ 2011. I was so happy that she clinched the title. Shortly after she won, she appeared in Countdown TV commercial with Brett, Season 1 Winner of Masterchef NZ. Nadia appeared in the commerical advertising her food recipe- Roast Pinapple Pork and Chocolate Soufflés. I went to Countdown website to check out the recipes, wanted to try her Roast Pinapple Pork but I was put off the NZ pork as they smell "porky" even after it has been cooked. Decided to bake Chocolate Souffles instead though I know it is not easy baking Soufflés. I watched the kids at Junior Masterchef Australia attempting this dessert too. They were only 9-12years old, at this young age they can make it why can I.

Recipe adapted from Countdown website for Nadia Lim's  Chocolate Chocolate Soufflés Recipe.

Ingredients for Soufflés:

Softened butter to coat ramekins

Caster Sugar to coat ramekins

4 Eggs, separated

½ Cup Caster Sugar

100g Dark Chocolate

50g Butter

4 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder

Ingredients for the Sauce: (optional)

4 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder

1/3 Cup Caster Sugar

100g Dark Chocolate

15ml Rum(Optional)

1.Preheat an oven to 200 Degree Celsius.

2.Prepare 6 ramekins by brushing inside with softened butter. Then sprinkle caster sugar to coat insides and tap out the excess.

3.In a very clean mixing bowl, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Slowly sprinkle in the sugar until fully incorporated and continue whipping the egg whites on full speed until very thick and glossy-about 10mins.

4.In a pot (using a double boiler method), melt the chocolate and butter together, stirring until smooth. Add the cocoa powder and egg yolks and quickly mix together until smooth, and with a spatula carefully and gently fold the egg whites mixture into the egg yolks mixture together until combined.

5.Divide soufflé mixture between the ramekins( the mixture should be enough to fill to the top) and bake in the oven for 10mins. The soufflés should rise 1 to 2cm above the top of the ramekins

6.To make sauce, put cocoa, sugar and water in a pot and bring to boil. Break in pieces of chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the rum if using.

7.The soufflés must be served immediately. As soon as they are out of the oven, make a hole in the top of the soufflés and pour in a little chocolate sauce. Serve the remaining sauce in a small jug so everyone can help themselves if they want more.

This was 1st attempt on Soufflés...it was yummy!