HappyCook80's Recipe

Chocolate Cheesecake with Fig Crust

Category: Recipes

Chocolate Cheesecake with Fig Crust

Basic Fig Crust:
18 dried white figs, stalk ends removed
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

Filling:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup evaporated skimmed milk
4 enves. unflavoured gelatine
4 tbs:s. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsps. vanilla
3 cups cottage cheese

Garnish:
paper-thin orange slices or orange zest

Fig Crust: Pulse the figs and the graham crackers in a processor until they clump together in a sticky ball, about 30 seconds. Don't process too long or the crackers will lose their texture. Transfer to a small bowl and press the mass into roughly the same shape as the cheesecake pan.

Lightly grease a high sided 7 inch springform cheesecake pan.
Press the crust mixture to the bottom and completely up the sides of the pan. Dip you fingers into a bowl of cold water to alleviate any stickiness.

Smooth the crust over the bottom of the pan completely first, working out from the centre, then build up the sides, bring the crust up to and beyond the rim of the pan. Finally trim the crust with a small sharp knife for a clean presentation.

The Filling: In a small pan mix the gelatine with the evaporated milk and warm on a low heat until the gelatine is dissolved, about 3 minutes. In a blender puree the evaporated milk and gelatine mixture, the sugar, cocoa and vanilla until completely incorporated. about 30 seconds. Add the cottage cheese one cup at a time, keeping one cup in reserve. Because I like a bit of texture in my filling I leave the mixture in the food processor until it is completely smooth and then turn it into a bowl, stirring in the last cup of cottage cheese unprocessed.

Pour the filling into the prepared crust, pop into the fridge and chill and set, about 2 to 3 hours.

To Serve: Unmold, slice with a warm knife and garnish each piece with a paper-thin orange slice or blanched orange zest.
Serves 10 to 12.