Sam Beall's Carrot Soufflé Recipe (2024)

By Kim Severson

Sam Beall's Carrot Soufflé Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(182)
Notes
Read community notes

This is more of a casserole than a traditional soufflé. It comes from Sam Beall, the proprietor of Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, who died at age 39 in a ski accident. The dish makes its seasonal debut on the Beall family table at Thanksgiving, but paired with a salad, it becomes lunch or a light dinner any time of year. Use the sweetest carrot you can find, and grate the onions on the same grater you use for the cheese to save a little prep and clean-up time. Many of the steps are easy enough for children, making it a great dish for teaching cooking skills. It will become part of your winter rotation, and travels well.

Featured in: A Widow Takes the Helm at Blackberry Farm

Learn: How to Make Soufflé

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have

    10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers.

    Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Print Options

    Include recipe photo

Advertisem*nt

Ingredients

Yield:8 to 10 servings

  • 1tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more to butter the dish
  • 2pounds carrots, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch rounds
  • 1tablespoon kosher salt, plus 1 teaspoon
  • 1cup whole milk
  • 1cup crushed saltine crackers
  • ¾cup, or about 3 ounces, grated sharp Cheddar
  • cup minced or grated onion (about ½ medium onion)
  • teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 3large eggs

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

124 calories; 5 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 16 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 342 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Sam Beall's Carrot Soufflé Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 2-quart soufflé dish or baking dish.

  2. Put the carrots in a large pot and cover with about an inch of water. Add a heaping tablespoon of salt and boil the carrots until they are tender enough to yield to the tip of a knife, about 10 minutes.

  3. Step

    3

    Strain the carrots and purée them in a food processor. Put them in a large bowl; stir in the milk, cracker crumbs, cheese, onion, butter, cayenne, black pepper and remaining salt.

  4. Step

    4

    In another bowl, beat the eggs until they are quite foamy. Using a whisk and a gentle touch, mix the eggs into the carrot mixture.

  5. Step

    5

    Scrape the mixture into the buttered dish and bake for about 45 minutes, until the soufflé is slightly puffed, light golden brown and pulling away from the sides of the dish. Serve warm.

Ratings

4

out of 5

182

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Faded elegance

Better version is "carrot custard" from Lee Bailey's "Country Weekends." Boil 14 oz peeled and chunked carrots 20 mins til extremely tender. Purée in processor with 2. Tb unsalted butter. Add 2 eggs + 1/2 cup milk with pinch each of nutmeg, salt, pepper. Process til smooth. Bake in buttered 8" cake pan in a water bath at 375 for about 30 mins. Let rest in pan on wire rack for about 10 and unmold onto platter. Holds beautifully; can be made ahead; is also good cold.

Maggie

In traditionsl Southern cooking, most casseroles made with eggs are called "souffles."

Francesca

I would reduce the amount of salt. Loved the texture and easiness but next time will not add salt to water

Elizabeth

"This is more of a casserole than a traditional soufflé." The photo looks like glop, without any trace of soufflé. It sounds like it would be tasty, but why call it something it's not?

Sheila

Delicious! Followed recipe exactly except for adding more onions than indicated. Will definitely make this again for family and friends

Kim Severson

The crackers offer lift and texture to this. Saltines are basically fat, flour and a bit of leavening. It's not unlike putting bread crumbs in a meatball or meatloaf, which bring a little lightness to the party.

Lew

Carrots are so much more flavorful when they have a baked char on them, so I would think this recipe would be fantastic. Twice baked carrot soufflé? I think you're onto something special.

Lisa

This would be called a sformato ("unformed") in Italy. A less classy moniker than souffle, perhaps, but a better descriptor. Multiple veg versions exist.

Allison

I really wanted to like this, but ultimately it just tasted like a scoop of puréed carrots. I followed the recipe exactly except for subbing scallions in for the onions, and I was hoping that the scallion and cheddar flavor would come through, but no dice. I put the mixture in individual ramekins in my fridge, so I’m going to try to take the remainder and form it into fritters with lots of extra cheese, salt, and panko instead.

Benjamin

I didn't like this at all. It worked fine but the taste was boring and somehow off. I used organic, premium ingredients. It's not a true soufflé anyway.

Rachel

This is unfortunately not very good.Edible, but not worth the trouble.

Cameron

Surprisingly bland recipe that sounded so good on the page. I was thinking this would be a knockout side dish for dinner parties -- good thing I did a test run before serving it to guests.

Anne Allen

I substituted crushed waffle potato chips for the crackers, and I used a potato masher to lightly mash the cooked carrots with the butter before adding the other ingredients. It turned out delicious and with a great texture.

Brenda

Used 1.5 tsp salt in boiling water with carrots. Added no extra salt. Delicious!

Jean

Anyone tried this with quinoa or other grain instead of saltines?

GERRI

I used the miniature, pre-peeled carrots for convenience. I did not process the carrots; instead I mashed them as you would a potato. I also lowered the salt to a sprinkle. A "heaping tablespoon" is too much for my taste. I found I didn't have saltines, so I substituted with Ritz crackers. It was very tasty and a good substitute in place of a potato; everyone liked it very much.

Faded elegance

Better version is "carrot custard" from Lee Bailey's "Country Weekends." Boil 14 oz peeled and chunked carrots 20 mins til extremely tender. Purée in processor with 2. Tb unsalted butter. Add 2 eggs + 1/2 cup milk with pinch each of nutmeg, salt, pepper. Process til smooth. Bake in buttered 8" cake pan in a water bath at 375 for about 30 mins. Let rest in pan on wire rack for about 10 and unmold onto platter. Holds beautifully; can be made ahead; is also good cold.

Cliff

One opinion. Water bath is more bother. Nutmeg instead of cayenne is OK, but not my preference. Your version lacks cheese?

Karen

Can this be made without the crackers? Has anyone tried it?

Krausova

Why do you need crackers

Kim Severson

The crackers offer lift and texture to this. Saltines are basically fat, flour and a bit of leavening. It's not unlike putting bread crumbs in a meatball or meatloaf, which bring a little lightness to the party.

NancyL

Could I bake the carrot rounds instead of boiling them, which extracts all the nutrients? Also, what about leaving the skin ON as it holds many nutrients?

Lew

Carrots are so much more flavorful when they have a baked char on them, so I would think this recipe would be fantastic. Twice baked carrot soufflé? I think you're onto something special.

GERRI

I don't see any reason why you couldn't bake the carrots; in fact, I'm trying that next time.

Debra

Don't you find the skins add an odd taste to the carrots?

Francesca

I would reduce the amount of salt. Loved the texture and easiness but next time will not add salt to water

Sheila

Delicious! Followed recipe exactly except for adding more onions than indicated. Will definitely make this again for family and friends

GERRI

I agree; it could use some more onions, but I would also saute them before adding.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Sam Beall's Carrot Soufflé Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Sam Beall's Carrot Soufflé Recipe? ›

'The reason a soufflé doesn't rise sometimes is because during this folding process, you have beaten out too many air bubbles. 'So we tell people to under-fold rather than over-fold. Even if there's still little streaks of egg whites, leave it,' he says.

Why didn't my carrot soufflé rise? ›

'The reason a soufflé doesn't rise sometimes is because during this folding process, you have beaten out too many air bubbles. 'So we tell people to under-fold rather than over-fold. Even if there's still little streaks of egg whites, leave it,' he says.

What is carrot soufflé made of? ›

In food processor, place carrots, 1/2 cup butter, the granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of the flour, the salt and eggs. Cover; process until pureed. Spoon mixture into baking dish. In medium bowl, mix brown sugar, pecans, remaining 1/2 cup flour and 6 tablespoons butter until crumbly.

What is the secret to a good soufflé? ›

According to La Varenne Practique (a timeless masterwork you should consider owning if learning more about classic French cooking appeals), there are only a few critical points to perfecting a souffle: a base of the right consistency, stiff egg whites, and the careful folding of the base and the beaten whites.

Why is soufflé so hard to make? ›

If the egg whites are not mixed enough, they will be too heavy to rise, but if they are over-whipped they will collapse in the oven. Finally, and most problematically, any cross-contamination between yolks and whites will cause the whole concoction to collapse, which is the bane of many dessert chefs' days.

What's the difference between a soufflé and a mousse? ›

While both are light and airy chocolate desserts that contain eggs, mousse is custard-based, usually contains milk or cream, and is served cold. Soufflé has fewer ingredients, and is baked and served hot.

What is soufflé vs quiche? ›

What is the main difference between a souffle vs quiche? The main difference lies in the base and the texture of these two dishes. While quiche has a savory pastry crust filled with a custard base made from whole eggs and cream, a soufflé relies heavily on whipped egg whites to give it a light and airy texture.

What's the difference between a meringue and a soufflé? ›

The two main parts of a soufflé are a custard base (a creamy sauce) and egg whites that have been beaten to form a meringue. The custard base provides the flavor and the meringue provides the rising effect that soufflés are famous for. Egg whites, which are pure protein, are beaten to add air to them.

How do you make a soufflé rise higher? ›

Adding a small amount of acid, such as cream of tartar or lemon juice, to the egg whites can help stabilize them and improve their ability to hold air, resulting in a higher rise. Additionally, using a high-quality, fresh baking powder can also contribute to a better rise.

Why does my soufflé keep deflating? ›

Don't open the oven door: Once the soufflé is in the oven, avoid opening the oven door until it's fully cooked. The rush of cool air can cause the soufflé to collapse. Serve immediately: Soufflés are best served immediately after they come out of the oven, as they tend to deflate quickly.

What ingredient makes a soufflé rise? ›

The motion of beating egg whites traps air into the mix. The egg white protein seals around pockets of air, creating bubbles. Egg yolks are separated out because their fat prevents those bubbles from forming. Those air bubbles expand in the oven, creating that famous cloud-like formation of a soufflé.

What happens if you overcook a soufflé? ›

Soufflés that collapse quickly and easily are too dry. This happens when they are baked for too long and overcook.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 6685

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.