Fruition Farms Ricotta Cheesecake with Rhubarb Compote
The secret to this recipe is using the best-quality ricotta you can find, although fresh eggs and good butter also lend their part. The compote is optional but a delicious seasonal treat. Alternately, you can simply serve the cheesecake with fresh berries.
Ingredients
Ingredients
NILLA WAFER CRUST
- 10 ounces unsalted butter melted, plus extra for buttering cake pan
- 12 ounces Nilla Wafers finely ground in a food processor
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
RICOTTA CHEESECAKE
- 8 ounces cream cheese diced, at room temperature
- 1½ pounds good-quality ricotta such as Luizzi's Hand-Dipped or ricotta by Quality Cheese, at room temperature
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 vanilla beans
- 4 large eggs
RHUBARB COMPOTE
- 3 pounds rhubarb rinsed and diced into ¼-inch pieces
- ⅛ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup red wine preferably soft and fruity, such as Pinot Noir
- ⅛ cup good-quality red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
Instructions
NILLA WAFER CRUST
- Heat oven to 325°F. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix with a rubber spatula until thoroughly combined. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan and spread the cookie mixture, pressing evenly around bottom of the pan. Wrap aluminum foil tightly around the bottom and sides of the pan. Set aside.
RICOTTA CHEESECAKE
- In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the cream cheese until soft and slightly whipped in consistency. Add the ricotta and beat until combined, on low speed. Add the sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and seedy paste scraped from inside each vanilla bean. Beat until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until well incorporated.
- Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure all ingredients are well combined. Top the cookie crust in the pan with the cheesecake batter and place inside a large deep pan, such as a roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the large pan to a depth of 1 inch to create a water bath for the cheesecake. Bake for 1½ to 2 hours, or until set. Cool completely.
RHUBARB COMPOTE
- Meanwhile, place the rhubarb and butter in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the rhubarb is just tender. Add the sugar, salt, red wine, and vinegar, and cook until the rhubarb begins to break down.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and cornstarch to make a slurry, and add to the rhubarb mixture. Bring to a rapid boil, stirring, to thicken; remove from the heat. Transfer to a bowl and chill the compote.
TO SERVE
- Release the cooled cheesecake from the pan and cut into serving portions. Garnish each slice with a spoonful of rhubarb compote. (Seidel also places a small chunk of honeycomb on the side, drizzles a red wine reduction on the plate and finishes the plate, with a generous sprinkling of his house-made pistachio granola.)
Chef Alex Seidel
Alex Seidel never imagined that one day he would be raising sheep and producing Coloradoʼs first artisanal Sheepʼs Milk Cheeses. Itʼs his passion for food that has allowed him to travel the country to experience his first love, cooking. A couple years after opening his first restaurant Fruition, Alex purchased a ten-acre farm. This fueled his desire to learn more about food, how it is produced, and from where it is sourced.
