White Chocolate and Rhubarb Baked Cheesecake
Photography by Sarah Tuck.
This is an update of an old favourite using roasted rhubarb with rich, smooth subtle white chocolate – the combination is insanely good.
Serves: 10
INGREDIENTS
Rhubarb
600 grams rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 3cm pieces
2 tablespoons caster sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
Cheesecake
250 grams plain biscuits
70 grams melted butter
200 grams white chocolate, chopped into chunks
625 grams cream cheese, at room temperature
250 grams sour cream
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
2 egg yolks
3 tablespoons custard powder
2 tablespoons vanilla extract (or 1 tablespoon vanilla plus 1 tablespoon rosewater)
1 tablespoon water
23cm removable base tin, lined with baking paper
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Lay the rhubarb pieces in an even layer in a roasting dish and sprinkle with caster sugar and vanilla extract. Toss to coat evenly and roast for 15–20 minutes until soft. Leave to cool in the syrup.
Line the base and sides of a 23cm removable base tin with baking paper. Whiz the biscuits and melted butter together in a food processor until it has the texture of damp sand, then pour it into the prepared tin. Squash the biscuit crumbs into the base and halfway up the sides of the tin, using the base of a glass to press the sides firmly, and a tablespoon to compact the base. Preheat the oven to 160˚C (325˚F) and pop the base in the fridge while you make the filling.
Melt the white chocolate either in a heat proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (don't let the base of the bowl touch the water), or in 30 second bursts at 70% power in the microwave, stirring in between. Whisk until smooth. While the chocolate is melting, wipe out the food processor and put in the cream cheese (chopped into big chunks), sour cream and caster sugar, eggs and yolks and whiz until smooth. Mix the custard powder, vanilla and water to a smooth paste and add to the cream cheese and briefly whiz again to incorporate. With the motor running add the white chocolate in a couple of lots until well incorporated.
Pour the filling into the chilled base. Scoop out one cup of rhubarb, draining excess liquid back into the remainder, and drop the rhubarb in blobs onto the surface of the cheesecake. (Reserve the remaining rhubarb to serve alongside). Cook for 65–70 minutes, turning the oven temperature down to 150˚C for the last 5–10 minutes. The cheesecake is ready once it is fully set, but with just a little bit of wobble still in the middle. Turn the oven off and open the oven door just a little then allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven to avoid surface cracking. Once cold refrigerate until half an hour before serving. Serve as is, or with a little roast rhubarb on the side.
Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
latest issue:
Issue #115
Issue 115 is packed with inspiration for all kinds of cosy meals – whether you’re dining alone, as two or with a few. We start with our Plating Game interview with Jesse Mulligan which inspired a medley of curries and sides then move on to a round up of easy one-pan chicken dishes, a variety of pasta bakes and meatballs, and using one simple yet delicious tart base we whip up five fab filling options. Sarah’s wintry faves include a moreish chorizo (not) carbonara, lamb and spinach filo pie and we finish off with sweet treats and decadent puds. We love seeing what you create, don’t forget to share your dish dishes with our Facebook community. When it comes to winter cooking, make it SIMPLY YUM!