It's a traditional recipe in the Italian repertoire, but you will find variations on this theme all over the Mediterranean from Sicily to San Sebastian to Santorini and Sardinia. I had a variation on this for my birthday on the Greek Island of Skopelos in the wonderful Adrina Hotel - made with the local curd cheese - myzithra and decorated with callendula petals (now where was I?)
Ingredients
750 g ricotta
2 tbs Greek style yoghurt
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup plain flour
good pinch salt
2 tsp finely grated orange zest
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 eggs
Optional extras 1/3 cup sultanas that have been soaked in orange liqueur.
Flaked almonds, toasted to decorate
Method
1. Preheat oven to 150oC
2. Grease 23 cm springform pan and cover the bottom with non-stick baking paper (how on earth did we manage before this stuff was invented?).
3. Lightly grease the base and sides of the pan with butter and roughly coat with a spoonful of flour - this helps to make the crust. This is not an exact science and rough is fine!
4. Cream ricotta in food processor until smooth.
5. Add yoghurt, sugar, vanilla, flour, salt, citrus zest and eggs and 'whaz' (I think I've been watching too much Jamie Oliver?) until smooth - about 30 seconds.
6. At this point you can fold in the alcohol soaked sultanas - this makes more of an 'adult' dessert. and decorate the top with toasted almond flakes - both optional.
7. Pour into your prepared cake tin and bake in the oven for about an hour. The top should be lightly golden and cake firm to touch.
This cake will normally rise quite a bit and then sink and crack - get ready for the rustic look! Great with poached or fresh summer fruit and a little extra cream. This has to be one of the easiest and yummiest cakes to make - enjoy.
Adrina (dreamer!) Hotel, Skopelos, Greece. Most fabulous place and great food in their restaurant.
2 comments:
Hi Diane, I found your blog whilst searching for baked cheesecake recipes... I made the Italian Baked Cheesecake. It was so easy. I haven't yet tasted it but if the smell that filled the house is anything to go by, I'm sure it's gonna be a winner tonight at our New Years Celebrations. I just wanted to let you know how beautiful your blog is & your recipes are beautiful. Will most definitely be visiting again! Thank You. Katherine
Thank you Katherine - I hope you enjoy it. I am making one tomorrow for a family New Year dinner with fresh mango and raspberry coulis. It's best eaten warm! I love getting comments and am always curious as to where respondents live. I am aconstantly amazed when I see that people have been looking it from such far flung places as Russia, India, Malaysia, Canada, Greece etc. Happy New Year. Diane
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