- Banana Base:
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 8 ounces Very ripe bananas, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons Dark Rum
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
- Souffle:
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup Sugar, for dusting
- 12 Egg whites
- 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
- 2 ounces Bittersweet chocolate, chopped into 1/4-inch chips
- First, make the Banana Base: In a medium saucepan over high heat, brown the butter.
- Add the sugars and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until they turn a caramel color, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped bananas and stir until well coated.
- Continue to cook, stirring continuously, for 2 minutes more.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rum and lemon juice.
- Transfer the mixture to a food processor and pulse until smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl and leave the mixture to cool to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Brush the insides of 6 (6-ounce) souffle ramekins with softened butter and dust them with sugar.
- To make the Souffles: In the bowl of a mixer with the whip attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until they are firm enough to form soft peaks when the whip or beaters are lifted out.
- Still beating at medium speed, add the sugar in a slow but steady stream.
- Continue to beat until the whites form moderately stiff peaks.
- With a large rubber spatula, fold half of this meringue into the Banana Base.
- Add the finely chopped chocolate and fold in the remaining meringue.
- Divide the souffle mixture among the prepared ramekins, mounding it higher than their tops.
- Bake the souffles until well risen and golden, 12 minutes.
- Serve immediately.