Hi there,
To continue with this strange, sudden obsession that has taken hold of me. I have entered the following recipe in the Bella Sun Luci recipe contest.
The inspiration for this savory cheesecake appetizer came from my friend Rosalie’s mother’s ricotta pie. (Thank you, Franny.)
It is a pretty and delicious combination of cheeses, sundried tomatoes, and pesto. I hope you try it.
Ingredients
- Butter for greasing the pan
- 4 and 1/2 inch springform pan
- 4 ounces of cream cheese, room temp
- 3 ounces of goat cheese, room temp
- 4 ounces ricotta cheese, room temp
- 1 cup of Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes with Zesty Peppers
- 2 tablespoons of pesto
- 4 tablespoons of Bella Sun Luci Tomato Pesto Sauce
- 2 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- zest of one large lemon
- 1 large egg plus one yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Butter the bottom and sides of a 4 1/2 inch springform pan
- Line the bottom with parchment paper
- Wrap the outside with heavy duty aluminum foil
- Place the sundried tomatoes in a food processor and pulse until chopped into small pieces
- Removes tomatoes from the food processor and add the room temperature cheese and pulse until combined
- Add the lemon zest, eggs, salt, and sun dried tomato and pepper mixture and combine
- In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons of tomato pesto with basil pesto and set aside
- Pour half of the cheese mixture into the pan
- Dot the mixture with the combined pesto mixture
- Pour the remaining cheese mixture on top
- Place the springform pan into an ovenproof pan containing hot water that reaches halfway up the springform pan
- Bake for 50 minutes; check after 45 minutes. The cake should be slightly loose in the center
- Remove from the oven and remove the aluminum foil
- Refrigerate for 3 hours and then remove from the springform pan
- Smooth the additional tomato pesto on the top and sprinkle the pine nuts
- Let the cake remain out of the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving
As Julia would say, Bon Appetite!
18 responses to “SUNDRIED TOMATO CHEESECAKE – cheesecake, not just for dessert anymore”
The cheesecake made with 3 different kinds of cheese must have tasted particularly aromatic and flavourful with pesto and pine nuts. A fantastic recipe!
Thank you my friend. Tell me what kind of delicious bread that you bake would take it to the next level.
Oh this sounds divine Bernadette! It sounds like a winner to me!
Jenna
Thanks Jenna. This was not a winner except in the mouths of my friends.
🤩 Wow!!! This looks and sounds absolutely delicious! If you don’t win that recipe contest, the judges must need a taste bud transplant. 😂
I have notified the judges that they are scheduled for the transplant since I did not win. Oh well!
Very nice. I remember versions of this in the 80’s. It was all about sun dried tomatoes and pesto back then! But, that doesn’t mean that it’s not good. Such great flavors.
Thanks Mimi, I guess everything old is new again.
Ooh a savory take on cheesecake. Looks like it would be a great feature on Holiday platters.
Great idea!
Bern, this recipe sounds wonderful. Good luck in your contest. You know we all hope you win!
No win but if at first you don’t succeed….
This is such a wonderful combination of tasty ingredients.
Definitely deserves a win! 🙂
Contest over, no win. But everyone loves it!
this sounds very interesting and different. i have an old recipe lurking around for a salmon cheesecake, and one for a chicken version. i must try them out one day …
I bet this was delicious!
It is pretty tasty but not a winner.
Sounds awesome! Thank you for sharing this!