Habanero Lime Cheesecake
- 1 1/2 cups wheat-meal biscuits (or about 26 graham cracker squares) ground to crumbs
- Pinch salt
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 3 habanero peppers
- 2 tablespoons sugar, plus 1 cup
- 24 ounces cream cheese
- Pinch of salt
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 lime, zested
- 1 very juicy or 2 less juicy limes, juiced
- 1 lime sliced thinly, for garnish
- 1 whole habenero, for garnish
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Position top rack in the center of the oven.
- Place a baking pan on the rack below this.
- Boil water.
- Make crust: Mix the crumbs and salt together in a small bowl, then add butter and stir to mix.
- Set aside 1/4cup for topping.
- Press the rest into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Turn on kitchen or stove exhaust fan.
- Skewer and roast the habaneros over an open flame (gas burner is fine) and set them to steam under a towel.
- When they are cool enough to handle, put on plastic gloves if desired.
- Peel and deseed habaneros, then pound in a mortar with the 2 tablespoons of sugar until a coarse paste results.
- Cream the cream cheese, then add remaining sugar and salt.
- Beat in the eggs 1 at a time until incorporated.
- Add the cream and blend.
- Beat the zest and lime juice into this mixture.
- Add the habanero paste last and beat until well mixed.
- Pour into the crust, then gently tap the pan to level the filling.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumbs on top.
- Pour boiling water into the pan on the oven's lower rack.
- Place the cheesecake on the rack above it.
- Bake for approximately 1 hour or until the cheesecake pulls away from the edge of the pan.
- Remove from the oven and allow to set for 20 minutes.
- Wrap and keep in the refrigerator overnight, or if rushed, place in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours.
- Garnish, if desired, with slices of lime and place a whole habanero in the center.
meal, salt, butter, peppers, sugar, cream cheese, salt, eggs, heavy cream, lime, very juicy, lime, habenero
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/habanero-lime-cheesecake-recipe.html (may not work)