Torta La Cosa Nostra

• 5 large eggs, separated
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups fresh ricotta (*see note)
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups hazelnut flour
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons demerara sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Generously butter the sides and bottom of an 8" springform pan. Dust the sides lightly with hazelnut flour. Line the bottom with parchment paper and butter this, too.
3. Whisk together egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy, then whisk in vanilla. Stir in ricotta, lemon zest and hazelnut flour until well blended. Whip heavy cream until soft peaks form and fold that in.
4. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with salt until they hold firm peaks. Fold this into ricotta mixture in three increments, trying not to overmix.
5. Pour into springform pan and smooth top evenly (so it's not lumpy like mine, above!). Sprinkle a layer of demerara sugar over the top. This forms a lovely crunchy crust.
6. Bake for 20 minutes; rotate and bake for another 20. Cake is done when slightly springy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Delicious served warm or room temperature, either plain or accompanied by fresh or macerated fruit and/or topped with a dollop of creme fraiche or a small scoop of ricotta.
7. *Ricotta should be on the dry side. If yours is very watery, line a colander with cheesecloth, place the ricotta inside, and set it in the sink to drain out some of the liquid.

eggs, sugar, vanilla, fresh ricotta, lemon zest, olive oil, hazelnut flour, heavy cream, salt, demerara sugar

Taken from food52.com/recipes/3664-torta-la-cosa-nostra (may not work)