Simple & easy healthy carrot souffle recipe - This low carb souffle is sweet and gluten-free. Best side dish for Thanksgiving or Easter dinner.
I used to be the Chief Managing Editor for FoodieMama.com. As such, I read each and every article that was published on the site. I edited them for grammatical problems and published them on our network.
I read a lot of neat articles, but one on a carrot souffle recently caught my attention. The author, Ilena Ewen, wrote a column on raising foodie kids, and she presented the recipe for carrot soufflé as a way to encourage children to eat and love vegetables.
She's not into the hiding veggies to get them into bellies trickery that pops up from time to time, and this souffle is clearly carrots with a few things added in.
Some of my Easter guests were dubious about trying the carrot souffle, but it won them over.
It's so sweet that it could easily be served for dessert with a scoop of ice cream.
In fact, I halved the sugar in my version below because it was even a little too sweet for my taste. (I thought that was impossible, but apparently, it isn't.)
One more note: this recipe fills only a small pan. You would have to double it to fill a 9x9 baking dish.
I would recommend doubling it; it's that good. Everyone will want seconds.
What you'll need to make easy carrot souffle
EQUIPMENT
- Potato masher - You can also use forks to mash the cooked carrots, but a potato masher makes it easier. Or you could go really fancy and pulse them in a food processor.
- Egg separator - If you have a different method of separating the yolk from the egg whites, go ahead and do your thing. I prefer to use an egg separator.
- Electric mixer - You'll need to whip the egg whites into frothy stiff peaks. The easiest way to do this is to use a handheld electric mixer or even a stand mixer, but if you only have a whisk, go at it with that.
INGREDIENTS
See printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for measurements and nutritional information.
- Fresh carrots - You'll need to wash and peel them before cooking.
- Melted butter - This can be salted or unsalted. It doesn't really matter.
- Large eggs - You'll use two of these eggs whole and separate the last one.
- White sugar - This souffle is pretty sweet, even though I have removed about half of the sugar suggested in the original recipe. Feel free to cut back a bit more if you're calorie conscious. You can also substitute brown sugar for a slightly different flavor.
- All-purpose flour - This thickens the souffle and makes the carrot stick together.
- Baking powder - This makes the souffle puff up a bit.
- Vanilla bean paste - Vanilla bean paste is made from crushed up vanilla beans in a thick, syrupy liquid. Vanilla extract is made from soaking vanilla beans in alcohol and then removing them. I prefer to use vanilla bean paste because it has a richer and more intense vanilla flavor, especially in baked goods. But if you only have vanilla extract, you can also use that.
How to make easy carrot souffle
- Preheat oven to 350º. Spritz a one quart casserole dish or souffle dish with butter flavored cooking spray.
- Cook the carrots until fork-tender using your preferred method. I microwaved mine, but you could also boil them in water with a pinch of salt in a large pot. Drain any cooking liquid and add the carrots to a large bowl. Add the melted butter, and mash with a potato masher or fork until nearly smooth. I personally liked the texture the finished dish had when I left some chunks of slightly larger carrots, but then I also like lumpy mashed potatoes, so go with what you like.
- Add 2 eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and vanilla. Mix well.
- Separate the last egg, adding the yolk to the carrot mixture. Whip the white until it is fluffy and forms stiff peaks.
- Carefully and gently fold the frothy whites into the carrot mixture.
- Spoon into the prepared casserole dish.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until firm. Serve hot.
Storing leftover carrot souffle
Carrot souffle keeps nicely in the refrigerator. Store it in an airtight container or a freezer bag for up to 3-5 days. To reheat, place a serving of the souffle on a plate and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until hot.
Try these other holiday side dishes while you're here:
- Baked Pineapple Casserole
- Zucchini Noodles with Garlic, Lemon, & Parmesan
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
- Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
- Egg and Asparagus Salad with Mimosa Vinaigrette Dressing
- CrockPot Sweet Potato Casserole
- CrockPot Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- Candied Yams with Marshmallows
Wendy says
This looks good. I believe each child is different and if a child needs to have their veggies hidden in their dishes for a period of time before they learn they've been eating the veggies- for them to realize that yes, they DO "like" them, then so be it.
My mom used to smother veggies in sugar and butter, or fry things up in fatback, so she was counterproductive in the veggie quest because she made them unhealthy. I've tried to stay away from that and as a result, I have one of two that "doesn't like" veggies- and it's all in her head cause she eats veggies quite a bit when she's not thinking about it. :o)
Wendy's last blog post..I Heart Faces: Easter
Wendy says
This looks good. I believe each child is different and if a child needs to have their veggies hidden in their dishes for a period of time before they learn they've been eating the veggies- for them to realize that yes, they DO "like" them, then so be it.
My mom used to smother veggies in sugar and butter, or fry things up in fatback, so she was counterproductive in the veggie quest because she made them unhealthy. I've tried to stay away from that and as a result, I have one of two that "doesn't like" veggies- and it's all in her head cause she eats veggies quite a bit when she's not thinking about it. :o)
Wendy's last blog post..I Heart Faces: Easter
Michelle says
I am into the idea of making this recipe but I am slightly lazy plus I just eat the cooked carrots plain, don't even bother to heat up. They would be good smashed with butter and I hope to talk myself into at least trying this once so I can say I did.
Tara Gerner says
If you want to try the flavor without fussing with the soufflé part, you can just mix it all together and bake it. I've done that a few times when I didn't feel like getting out the mixer to whip the egg whites. It tastes the same just has a different texture.