Cheddar-Corn Spoon Bread

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 400F.
2. 2
   Butter a deep 2-quart baking (or souffle) dish.
3. 3
   In a medium saucepan, combine butter, milk, corn, cornmeal, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon salt.
4. 4
   Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is slightly thickened, 3 to 4 minutes.
5. 5
   Remove from heat; stir in cheese.
6. 6
   Let cool until just warm to the touch, about 15 minutes.
7. 7
   Stir in egg yolks until combined.
8. 8
   With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt just until soft peaks form.
9. 9
   Stir one-third of the whites into the cornmeal mixture until combined, then gently fold in the remaining whites with a flexible spatula.
10. 10
    Pour into prepared dish.
11. 11
    Place dish in oven; reduce oven heat to 375F.
12. 12
    Bake until browned on top but still slightly loose in the center, 25 to 30 minutes.
13. 13
    Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
14. 14
    The key to the dishs fluffy consistency is to beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks: They should appear thickened but droop slightly when the whisk is lifted and turned right side up.
15. 15
    To avoid deflating beaten whites when folding into the cornmeal mixture, work quickly, turning the bowl and running a spatula down through the center and then up at the sides, as if forming the letter J.