Italian Savory Cheesecakes
Three delicious flavors to choose from to make these savory Italian cheesecakes.
Recipe Ingredients:
Cheesecake Base:
2 cups dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 cups (16 ounces) Wisconsin Ricotta cheese
1 cup (3 ounces) Wisconsin Asiago cheese, grated
6 large eggs
Flavor Variations:
Parma:
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups Spanish onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 1/2 cups ripe pitted black olives, sliced
1 cup Parma ham, diced
3 cups (12 ounces) Wisconsin Colby cheese, shredded
Pesto:
1 1/2 cups prepared pesto sauce
1/2 cup dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) Wisconsin Asiago cheese, grated
Roasted Red Pepper:
2 cups (16 ounces) Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar Cold Pack cheese
1 cup roasted red pepper, puréed
1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cooking Directions:
- Combine crumbs and butter; pat evenly into two 9 inch springform pans.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Set aside.
- In bowl of electric mixer equipped with paddle, combine cream cheese, Ricotta, Asiago and eggs; mix until smooth.
- Stir in desired flavorings; mix well. Pour batter evenly into the two prepared crusts. Bake in a conventional oven at 325°F (160°C) for 60 minutes or until cakes are golden and firm to the touch; or in a convection oven at 275°F (135°C) for 55 to 60 minutes.
- Remove cakes from oven and cool on racks at least 2 hours before unmolding and slicing. Serve warm with Italian bread and fresh fruit.
- For Parma: Sauté ingredients, except Colby in oil several minutes until tender. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Stir in Colby; set aside until ready to use in batter.
- For Pesto: Mix pesto, dried tomatoes and pepper sauce. Stir in Asiago; cover and set aside until ready to use in batter.
- For Roasted Red Pepper: Mix Cold Pack, roasted red peppers, red pepper sauce and salt until smooth. Stir into batter when ready to use.
Makes 2 (9-inch) cheesecakes; 24 servings.
Recipe provided courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.