Lindy's—Or Is It Reuben's?—Cheesecake
"A Greek man answered an ad we ran in The New York Times for a baker. He said he baked Lindy's cheesecakes. "You get me the ingredients I want—pure cream cheese, eggs, and heavy cream—and I'll make you Lindy's cheesecake." He was a gem. He baked Lindy's cheesecake for our restaurant." - Miriam Perlof, founder, the Country Club Restaurant and Pastry Diner, Philadelphia.
Recipe Ingredients:
Cookie Crust:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg yolk
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/4-inch bits
Cheese Filling:
1 1/4 pounds softened cream cheese
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons heavy cream
Cooking Directions:
- To make the crust, place the flour, sugar, grated lemon rind, vanilla extract, egg yolk, and butter in a large mixing bowl. With your fingertips, rub the ingredients together until they are well mixed and can be gathered into a ball. Dust with a little flour, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Place the chilled dough in an ungreased 9-inch spring-form pan. With your hands, pat and spread the dough evenly over the bottom and about 2 inches up the side of the pan. Bake in the center of a preheated 450°F (230°C) oven for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Lower the oven temperature to 200°F (95°C). To make the filling, place the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until it is creamy and smooth. Beat in the sugar, a few tablespoons at a time, and, when it is well incorporated, beat in the flour, lemon and orange rinds, vanilla extract, eggs and egg yolk, and heavy cream.
- Pour the filling into the cooled cookie crust and bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour. Then remove from the oven and set aside to cool in the pan. Then unmold
- Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 3 hours before serving.
Makes at least 12 servings (D).
Recipe from: Jewish Cooking in America by Joan Nathan.