Cheesecake with Pistachios

DESCRIPTION

Cheesecake With Pistachios. Recipe by Chef Viviana Varese.

INGREDIENTS

For the Base

• 1 cup Sugar cookies, crumbled
• 3 tsp Brown sugar
• 2 tsp American pistachios
• ¼ cup Butter

For the Cream

• 2 whole Eggs
• 1 Egg yolk
• ¼ cup Granulated white sugar
• 2 ½ cups Ricotta
• Juice of half a lemon
• ½ cup fresh cream
• 1 ½ tbsp cornstarch 20 g

For the Candied Pistachios

• 1 1/3 cups American pistachio kernels
• ½ cup Water
• ¾ cup Granulated white sugar

For the Whipped Fudge with White Chocolate and Pistachios

• ¼ tsp fresh Cream
• ¼ cup white Corn syrup
• 1 ½ cups White chocolate
• ½ cup Pistachio paste

INSTRUCTIONS

For the Candied Pistachios

1. Toast the pistachios for 15 minutes at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. To prepare syrup boil water and add sugar and roasted pistachios. Then drain and place pistachios bakery paper and bake at 160 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until they are candied.

For the Fudge

1. Heat the cream with the corn syrup; do not bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add the chocolate and mix with a whisk. When the chocolate has melted add the pistachio paste. Let rest in the refrigerator for about 3 hours.

For the Base

1. Whisk the sugar cookies with candied pistachios and then add the melted butter; mix until homogeneous. Place in a round cake pan with a diameter of 8 inches. Level with a spoon equally to obtain a bottom of about 1/8 inch deep. Let rest in the refrigerator for about half an hour.

For the Cream

1. Combine and beat the eggs and egg yolk with the sugar until frothy. Add the sifted ricotta. Mix with lemon juice, starch, and fresh cream. Add ¾ of candied pistachios. Place the cream into the pan over the base and bake in oven at 160 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 140 degrees. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes, remove and allow to cool before serving.

Assembly and Finishing

1. Blend the cold fudge with an electric mixer until it has a solid consistency. Place the fudge into a piping bag and decorate the cheesecake. Finish with ¼ of candied pistachios.