Lime and Ricotta Cheesecake

I happened to see this recipe featured on the Today Show last week and as soon as I saw the look of the final cake I knew I had to try it at home. I had never had a proper American cheesecake before I moved to North America, and yes, as shocking as it may seem to anyone who has always lived on this side of the world, France does not carry Philadelphia cheese. I've seen it a couple times in the last couple years, but it's definitely not a staple of French every day cooking!

My mom grew up eating traditional Eastern European cheesecakes. Those are the real thing! They are sky-high fluffy, airy and creamy cakes, with no base, incredibly moist and deliciously rich. This recipe comes quite close to those cheesecakes, it uses ricotta and can be flavored with any type of citrus, or just a nice subtle vanilla flavor.

I flavored these babies with some lime (juice and zest) and made small cakes and individual portions, but you could make it a traditional 9-inch cake pan. They rise wonderfully in the oven - much like souffles would - and then nicely cave in when they cool looking rustic and bueatifully uneven. I really loved these cakes, and this was the perfect excuse to use a batch of fresh whole milk ricotta I had bought at the market.



Lime and Ricotta Cheesecake
(Adapted from Martha Stewart)
Makes one 9-inch cake

Unsalted butter, room temperature, for pan
3/4 cup sugar, plus more for pan
1 1/2 pounds fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese, pureed in a food processor until smooth
6 large eggs, separated
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Finely grated zest of 2 limes, plus juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Generously butter and sugar a 9-inch springform pan (3 inches deep). Whisk together ricotta, egg yolks, flour, 6 tablespoons sugar, the lime zest and juice, and salt in a large bowl.

Whisk egg whites with a mixer on low speed until foamy. Raise speed to high, and gradually add remaining 6 tablespoons sugar, whisking until stiff, glossy peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently fold a third of the whites into ricotta mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined. Gently fold in remaining whites until just combined.

Pour batter into pan, and bake until center is firm and top is deep golden brown, about 1 hour. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake; release sides to remove from pan, and let cool completely.

Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.