Pesto Cheesecake

Submitted by Richard-NYC

"A savory red and green cheesecake perfect for a holiday buffet."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 9
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese (softened)
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1⁄2 cup grated romano cheese
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1⁄4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 3 eggs
• 1⁄4 cup sun-dried tomato (finely chopped)
• 1⁄4 cup pesto sauce (homemade or prepared)
• 1⁄4 pignolis (pine)

directions

1. Butter spring form pan, coat with breadcrumbs--set aside.
2. Beat cream cheese, ricotta and Romano cheese with electric mixer.
3. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
4. Seperate batter in half--add pesto to one half and sundried tomatoes to the other half.
5. Layer in spring pan.
6. Sprinkle pignoli nuts on top Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
7. Cool in pan.
8. Cover and wrap in plastic.
9. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnite.
10. Slide knife around edge of pan and remove to serve.

Reviews

[yooper]

I made this for our Christmas Eve get together. Fantastic recipe Richard. I couldn't find the pignoli nuts (or pine nuts) here so I just baked it plain. The green from the pesto and the red from the sun-dried tomatoes made this the perfect dish for the season! I love pesto, but my sister hates it...however, she went ape for this! The texture was very creamy and the flavors complemented each other nicely. I had a two hour road trip, and this was easy to transport, an added bonus! Thanks Rich...this will be a new Christmas Eve tradition with me!

 

[gknobis]

This appetizer is amazing! Every time I take it somewhere people ask me for the recipe! I make it in a 7inch springform pan, so it's taller, and I serve it on a pedestal cake plate and looks beautiful! I add some fresh basil on top for garnish. So much more "gourmet" than the usual ho-hum cheese plate.

 

[Lightly Toasted]

I love this recipe! I have been making it for years as a light supper, or appetizer for a dinner party. "Mellow" isn't the right word, but it's the best I can come up with. The blend of flavors is delicions and savory.

 

[Hey Jude]

I made this to take to work and it was a big success, everyone loved it, some spread the mixture on crackers. This is so easy to make and transports very well, as Yooper mentioned. I followed the recipe exactly, using homemade sun-dried tomatoes and store-bought pesto. thanks Richard, this is really tasty!