The original Soufflé Rothschild, created for James Rothschild by Antonin Carême, was a baked soufflé embellished with gold leaf. Since then, there have been all kinds of “Rothschild” soufflés, salads, and other dishes— the name is used to denote extravagance or richness. This frozen soufflé Rothschild was conceived by the famous pastry chef Gaston Le Nôtre, for a grand dinner at the home of one of the Rothschilds. It was served to me at a dinner party in Paris, and is one of the most delicious desserts I have ever tasted. Neither an ice cream nor a sorbet, it is technically a bavaroise glacée, a frozen parfait based on eggs and cream. The best part of this recipe is that it is quite quick to make. Just watch— your guests will sneak back for seconds and thirds!
Recipe information
Yield
8 to 10 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Put the candied fruit in a small bowl, and cover with 3 tablespoons of Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur.
Step 2
Cut a strip of parchment paper the full circumference of a 10-cup soufflé dish. Ring the inside edge of the dish all the way to the bottom with the paper, creating a collar that extends a few inches above the rim, and secure the end of the paper with tape.
Step 3
Whip the egg whites with the lemon juice in the bowl of an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add 3 tablespoons of the sugar, and whip until stiff peaks are formed. Remove to a large bowl, and fold in the remaining 1/2 cup of Grand Marnier.
Step 4
Clean the mixer bowl and beaters, and whip the cream until it holds soft peaks. Fold the cream into the egg whites.
Step 5
Clean the bowl again, and, using the mixer, beat the egg yolks and the remaining 6 tablespoons sugar until very thick and pale yellow. Then fold into the whipped cream and egg whites.
Step 6
Fill a third of the soufflé dish with the batter. Drain the candied fruit, and sprinkle half of it, along with the cookie pieces, over the surface of the batter. Pour in the rest of the batter, and top with the remaining candied fruit.
Step 7
Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze for at least 3 hours and up to 8 days. Before serving, remove to the refrigerator, and when half frozen, sprinkle the nougatine over the soufflé. Remove the paper collar before serving.
