I think that this is the first proper dish I made (which wasn’t a sandwich or scrambled eggs!). I was about 12 years old at the time and my parents were big fans of “Reader’s Digest” books. I found a recipe for this delicious dessert in one of the cookery books and that was it! I haven’t made a chocolate soufflé since my first attempt so it was about time I treated my friends to my childhood pudding.
Ingredients (serves 5)
2 tsp butter
30g crushed amaretti biscuits
240ml skimmed milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp cornflour
55g crushed walnuts or hazelnuts
100g good quality dark chocolate
2 egg yolks
4 egg whites
80g icing sugar
salt
Method
1.Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2.Butter 5 ramekins and sprinkle the bottom with the crushed amaretti biscuits.
3.In a large saucepan combine milk and vanilla. Bring to boil and remove from the heat.
4.In a large bowl combine cornflour and crushed nuts. Add one spoon of hot milk at a time and stir until you have a smooth mixture. Bring the milk and cornflour back to a simmer – stir constantly.
5.Once the mixture is thick, remove from the heat and add chopped chocolate. Stir until melted and well incorporated. Add the egg yolks one at a time to chocolate base and whisk.
6.In a large bowl whisk the egg whites and a pinch of salt with a hand mixer until stiff glossy peaks begin to form, then whisk in the sugar one spoon at a time.
7.Gently fold the egg white meringue into the chocolate base.
8.Fill the ramekins to the top with the mixture and place in the oven for 15 – 17 minutes.
9.Serve with fruit or ice cream.
Chocolate & Other Stories 