Blue Cheese Cheesecake with Baby Greens, Candied Walnuts and a Pear Vinaigrette
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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.)
- Yield: 1 generous cup
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup walnut halves
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 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.
- Yield: 1/2 cup
bread crumbs, walnuts, unsalted butter, blue cheese, cream cheese, eggs, clove garlic, fresh rosemary, salt, serving, vinaigrette, candied walnuts
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/blue-cheese-cheesecake-with-baby-greens-candied-walnuts-and-a-pear-vinaigrette-recipe2.html (may not work)