The soufflé is a gem of a dish. Whether sweet or savory, it’s the ideal combination of light, airy, and creamy — a veritable cloud of eggy goodness. And it arguably has the most succinctly descriptive name ever: it’s derived from the French verb souffler, which means “to blow” or “to puff.” We whipped up a classic cheese soufflé and took an appropriately breezy look into its history.

The earliest mention of the soufflé can be traced back to chef Vincent La Chappelle in the early 1700s. However, according to food historians, the soufflé was perfected by Marie-Antoine Carême in the mid-1800s. As a cook for Paris’ nouveau riche, he had access to updated ovens that were heated by air drafts rather than coal, which was key to the rise — both literal and figurative — of the soufflé. The popularity of the dish only grew as fine dining burgeoned from the early 1900s through the mid-20th century.

In the 1940s and 1950s, cheese soufflés found their way into the home kitchen thanks to chefs like Julia Child and Irma S. Rombauer. The cheese soufflé became all the more accessible with the advent of pasteurized processed cheeses, like Velveeta and Kraft American, which melted easily and did not curdle when used in hot dishes. (Kraft even published a recipe for "cheese soufflé with a top hat" in a 1948 advertisement.) Many of the cheese soufflé recipes of this era also offered numerous variations, with everything from mushrooms to crabmeat and pineapple (yes, really) added to the base.

In this recipe, we opt for simple ingredients with a touch of modern elegance — there’s not a pineapple ring or block of bright orange cheese in sight. Shallot, fresh thyme, black pepper, and garlic play the aromatic roles and, after a bit of simmering, we strain them out of the roux so the baked soufflé has a nice, smooth texture. For cheese, we go the nutty route with Parmesan and Gruyère, and then round everything out with punchy Dijon mustard, earthy nutmeg, and cayenne for a hint of heat.

Soufflé has an only somewhat-deserved reputation for being fussy. The truth is, as long as you follow the instructions carefully and treat the eggs like you love them dearly, your soufflé will rise just fine! Nevertheless, here are some tips from the test kitchen to help guarantee a successful soufflé-making experience.

With soufflé, how you prep the ramekin is crucial. Butter alone won’t provide enough grip for the soufflé to rise to mesmerizing heights. So you have two options here: Keep things simple and don’t grease the pan at all. Or better yet, do as we’ve done and grease it with butter and then dust it with grated Parmesan, which will help the soufflé creep and climb up the sides of the ramekin. Plus, the Parm creates a beautiful, golden brown crust on the outside of the soufflé — the perfect juxtaposition to the rich, luscious center. (And you really can’t beat the caramelly taste of baked cheese.)

Even if it seems like your soufflé isn’t rising, don’t panic! All that creamy, eggy business balloons very slowly over the whole baking period, so just give it time.

Once your cheese soufflé has emerged from the oven, you’ll want to eat it immediately: that glorious, fluffy tower will deflate within five to 10 minutes. It can absolutely stand on its own in the center of the plate, but you might also serve it alongside a slice or two of glazed ham and a crunchy green vegetable, like broccoli or asparagus. And here’s one more tip for the road: add a few dashes of hot sauce to your helping — that little bit of heat plays so well with the nutty cheeses!