Ricotta cheesecake or shortcut to a perfect dessert

If a traditional cheesecake is too heavy and too sweet for you, you can try this light, non traditional and versatile alternative which is made from ricotta cheese and is low-fat. It is very easy to make and a great way to impress your friends and in-laws.

Basic Ricotta Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 lb (500g) part skim ricotta cheese

1/3 cup of raisins

1/4 cup of chopped walnuts

2 Tbs olive oil

2 Tbs honey or sugar  

2 Tbs Farina (found in the cereal aisle)

2 eggs

plain bread crumbs to line the baking pan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F

1. In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese, olive oil, honey, raisins, walnuts and Farina.

2. In a separate bowl whip the eggs into foam and mix them gently but thoroughly with the cheese mixture. (You can put eggs right into the ricotta cheese mix without whipping them first. In that case cake will be more flat, but still taste great)

4.Grease well a 9 inch pie pan or 9 inch ceramic baker and spread the bread crumbs all over the grease. Put the cheesecake mixture in the pan.

5.Bake for about 40 min.. Serve at room temperature or cold.

Suggestions

You can make a tort from two cakes by stacking one cake on top of the other with lemon curd or lemon cream in between the cakes.  Then spread the lemon curd or cream on the top of the top cake and put a whipped cream on the top of that.

Almond Ricotta Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 lb (500g) part skim ricotta cheese

1/4 cup of chopped almonds

1/3 cup of raisins (optional)

1 tsp almond extract

2 Tbs olive oil

2 Tbs honey or sugar

2 Tbs Farina (found in the cereal aisle)

2 eggs

plain bread crumbs to line the baking pan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F

1. In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese, olive oil, honey, almond extract, almonds and Farina.

2. In a separate bowl whip the eggs into foam and mix them gently but thoroughly with the cheese mixture. (You can put eggs right into the ricotta cheese mix without whipping them first. In that case cake will be more flat, but still taste great)

4.Grease well a 9 inch pie pan or 9 inch ceramic baker and spread the bread crumbs all over the grease. Put the cheesecake mixture in the pan.

5.Bake for about 40 min.. Serve at room temperature or cold.

Suggestions

You can make a tort from two cakes by stacking one cake on top of the other with almond cake and pastry filling in between the cakes.  Then spread the almond paste on the top of the top cake.

Cardamom Ricotta Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 lb (500g) part skim ricotta cheese

1/4 tsp cardamom

1/3 cup of raisins (optional)

2 Tbs olive oil

2 Tbs honey or sugar

2 Tbs Farina (found in the cereal aisle)

2 eggs

plain bread crumbs to line the baking pan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F

1. In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese, olive oil, honey, cardamom, and Farina.

2. In a separate bowl whip the eggs into foam and mix them gently but thoroughly with the cheese mixture. (You can put eggs right into the ricotta cheese mix without whipping them first. In that case cake will be more flat, but still taste great)

4.Grease well a 9 inch pie pan or 9 inch ceramic baker and spread the bread crumbs all over the grease. Put the cheesecake mixture in the pan.

5.Bake for about 40 min.. Serve at room temperature or cold.

Notes

This is a quick and easy way to make a light, unusual desert or have something different for breakfast. These cakes also can be topped with a variety of jams or berries. Alternatively, you can add fresh or frozen berries of your choice instead of raisins. You can make these cakes as light as you like by decreasing the amount of lemon cream or almond paste. If you bake only one cake you can make it taller by baking it in an 8 x 3 inch pan with a removable bottom.

Holiday ricotta cheesecake

Ingredients

1 lb (500g) part skim ricotta cheese

1/2 cup of raisins

1/4 cup of chopped walnuts

3 Tbs olive oil

2 tbs or more of sugar  

3 tbs Farina (found in the cereal aisle)

5 eggs

plain bread crumbs to line the baking pan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F

1. In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese, olive oil, sugar, raisin, walnuts, egg yolks (save the egg whites in a separate bowl) and Farina.

2. In a separate bowl whip the eggs whites into a thick foam. Put them on top of the cheese mixture. Mix gently the egg whites and cheese mixture by folding  the cheese mixture over the egg white (mixing from bottom up) until two mixtures are completely mixed.

4.Grease well a 8 x 3 inch  baking pan with removable bottom and  spread the bread crumbs all over the grease. Put the cheesecake mixture in the pan.

5.Bake for about 40 min.. Serve at room temperature or cold.

You can decorate the cake with a chocolate glaze or a jam.