Pistachio Ricotta Cheesecake Food

PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour and almonds; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/4 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, milk and pudding mixes until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Reduce heat to 350°. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. , Slice cheesecake; drizzle slices with chocolate syrup. Garnish with whipped cream and pistachios if desired.

LEMON RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9-inch loose-bottom cake pan or springform pan with a round of parchment paper and grease.
• Add pistachios, 1/4 cup sugar, flour, ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the bowl of a 14-cup food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles moist sand. Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden brown and firm, about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool while you prepare the filling. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Wipe out food processor. Add ricotta, cream cheese, lemon zest and juice, remaining 1 cup sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to food processor and process until smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, and pulse until just combined; do not overmix. Pour mixture over crust in prepared pan and smooth top with spatula. Wrap bottom and sides of pan with aluminum foil to insulate.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheesecake is golden and set but the center is still jiggly, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 1 hour inside the oven with the heat turned off and the oven door cracked open. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack at room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 12 hours and up to 48 hours.
• Run a knife around the perimeter of the cheesecake to loosen from pan. If using a loose-bottom pan, place the pan on a large can or cup and pull downward to drop the pan away from the cheesecake. If using a springform pan, remove the rim by pulling the latch.
• Slice the cheesecake using a sharp knife. Wipe the knife clean and dip in warm water between slices for clean edges when cutting.

ORANGE RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack to the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Spread the pistachios out on a baking sheet and bake until golden and toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a heat-safe plate to cool, then pulse them in a food processor until very finely ground. Transfer the ground pistachios to a small bowl and set aside.
• Set a 9-inch springform pan on top of a piece of parchment paper and trace a circle around it. Cut out the circle and set aside. Generously grease the bottom and sides of the pan with the room temperature butter, then press the parchment circle into the bottom of the pan.
• Put the ricotta and 2/3 cup sugar in the bowl of food processor and process until the mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer the ricotta mixture to a large bowl and whisk in the eggs yolks, orange zest and juice and the vanilla.
• In another large bowl, add the egg whites and whip using an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the eggs become foamy. Sprinkle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue to whip the egg whites until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to fold 1/3 of the beaten whites into the ricotta mixture until just incorporated and a few white streaks remain. Gently fold in the remaining whipped egg whites, folding until there are no white streaks remaining.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared springform pan and set it on a baking sheet. Bake until the cheesecake is light golden brown and the sides begin to pull away from the pan, 55 minutes to about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Transfer the cheesecake to a cooling rack and let it cool completely, about 1 hour. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 2 days before serving.
• To serve, run a thin knife or spatula around the cake to release it from the sides, then unclasp the latch of the pan. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners' sugar and sprinkle with the finely ground pistachios. Set the cheesecake on a cake platter, slice and serve.