Blue Cheese Cheesecake with Baby Greens, Candied Walnuts and a Pear Vinaigrette
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 10 to 12 servings
- Total: 1 hr 41 min
- Prep: 40 min
- Inactive: 1 min
- Cook: 1 hr
Ingredients
3/4 cup toasted bread crumbs
3/4 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 pound good-quality blue cheese, at room temperature
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
4 eggs
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Baby greens for serving
Pear Vinaigrette, recipe follows
Candied Walnuts, recipe follows
Pear Vinaigrette:
1 (4-ounce) firm-ripe pear, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons green onions
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Candied Walnuts:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup walnut halves
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine bread crumbs, walnuts and melted butter and process until thoroughly combined. Press the mixture on the bottom and partially up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl combine blue cheese and cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper and combine well. Using a spatula, transfer cheese mixture to the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the cake is golden brown and not loose in the center.
- While the cake is baking, make the Pear Vinaigrette and Candied Walnuts.
- When the cake is puffed, golden brown and not loose in the center, transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Serve the cake warm, with a salad of baby greens tossed with the Pear Vinaigrette, garnished with the Candied Walnuts.
Pear Vinaigrette:
- Combine the pear, Champagne vinegar, shallots, sugar, rosemary and black pepper in a skillet and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the pears are tender, about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender or food processor.
- Add the mustard, soy sauce, kosher salt, and green onions, and puree on high speed. With the motor running, add the oil in a thin stream and process until emulsified. Remove from the blender and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve. (The vinaigrette will keep for up to 1 week refrigerated.)
Candied Walnuts:
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, until golden brown and toasted, 3 minutes. Add the sugar and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Transfer to a piece of waxed paper to cool.