REC - Smoked Salmon Cheesecake - RFC Cookbook page 9

rec.food.cooking - cookbook - page 9
Appetizers & Beverages

Smoked Salmon Cheesecake

1 cup (about 180 g) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 cup (about 120 g) fine dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup (about 115 g) unsalted butter, melted
Emeril's Essence[***] -or- use a mixture of pepper and dill, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup (about 90 g) finely diced (brunoise) red peppers
1/2 cup (about 90 g) finely diced (brunoise) yellow peppers
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 pounds (1 kg) cream cheese, room temperature
4 large eggs
1/2 cup (about 60 g) heavy cream
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
1 cup (about 110 g) smoked Gouda cheese, grated
1 pound (500 g) house smoked salmon[*]
1/4 cup (about 10 g) finely chopped parsley leaves
1 cup (about 120 g) creme fraiche
juice of one lemon
2 tablespoons chopped chives
1/4 cup (about 25 g) finely diced (brunoise) red onion
1/4 cup (about 25 g) capers
1 egg white, hard boiled, finely chopped
1 egg yolk, hard boiled, finely chopped
1 tin (7 ounce/200 g) Choupique caviar [**]
[*] I use chunk smoked salmon from Costco.
[**] I skipped the caviar because I dIdn't think it needed any.

Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). In a 10-inch (25 cm) springform pan,
combine the Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and melted butter together.
Blend thoroughly and season the mixture with Essense. Firmly press the
mixture into the bottom of the pan.

In a saute pan, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. When the oil is
hot, add the onions and peppers. Season the mixture with Essence.
Saute the vegetables for 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and remove from
the heat and cool completely. Using a food processor fitted with a
metal blade, add the cream cheese. Process the cheese until smooth.
With the machine running, add the eggs, one at a time.

Add the cream, salt and black pepper. Process the mixture until
incorporated. Remove the mixture from the machine and turn into a
mixing bowl. Fold the vegetable mixture, Gouda cheese, smoked salmon
(flaked) and parsley into the cheese mixture. Re-season the mixture if
needed. Pour the cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Place the pan
on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or
until the cheesecake is set in the center. Remove the cheesecake from
the oven and cool completely before slicing.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk the creme fraiche and lemon juice
together. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Fold in the chives.
To assemble, place a small pool of the sauce in the center of each
plate. Lay one piece of the cheesecake in the center of the sauce.
Garnish each plate with the red onions, capers, egg whites, egg yolks,
caviar and parsley.

Yield: 16 servings

Recipe adapted from "NEW New Orleans Cooking" by Emeril Lagasse.

Source: Debra Fritz - California, USA

[***] Emeril's Essence

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
(Just add to taste, don't use all of this in the above recipe.)