Paskha (Russian Cheesecake)
Recipe
- Title:
- Paskha (Russian Cheesecake)
- Categories:
- Cheese/eggs, Sauces, Cheesecakes, Russian
- Yield:
- 10 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
CHEESECAKE
- 6 c Farmers Cheese; 3 Lbs, *
- 6 ea Egg Yolks; Large
- 1 1/2 c Confectioners' Sugar
- 1 1/2 c Heavy Cream
- 1/2 c Candied Fruits
- 1/2 c Raisins; Seedless
- 1/2 c Almonds; Toasted, Slivered
- 1/2 ts Lemon Rind; Grated
- 1/2 lb Butter; NO Margarine
- 3 ts Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
SABAYON SAUCE
- 2 ea Egg Yolks; Large
- 1/4 c Madeira
- 1/2 ts Lemon Rind; Grated
- 3 tb Confectioners' Sugar
- 1 tb Lemon Juice
- 1 tb Rum; Light
Directions
- * You can also use Large-Curd Cottage Cheese if the Farmers Cheese is ~--- NOTE: THIS IS A SPECIAL CAKE REQUIRING A NEW LARGE FLOWER POT 7 X 7-INCHES AT A MINIMUM.
- Press the cheese through a sieve.
- Combine the cheese with the egg yolks, beating in 1 yolk at a time.
- Add the sugar and blend well.
- Heat the cream in a large saucepan until it almost boils, then add the cheese mixture and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
- Remove from the heat before it begins to boil.
- Stir in the fruits, almonds, and lemon rind.
- Cool.
- Cream together the butter and the vanilla, then stir into the cooled cheese mixture.
- Line the flower pot with several layers of moistened cheesecloth, leaving enough cloth at the top to form a flap that will cover the pot.
- Fill the pot with the cheese mixture and cover with the flap.
- Put a weight on the top and place in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
- The whey (liquid) will drip out the bottom of the pot, so be sure to place a pan under it.
- When drained, carefully unmold the cake with a knife.
- Remove the cheesecloth and smooth the sides with a hot knife.
- Prepare the sauce.
- Beat together the egg yolks, sugar, Madeira, and lemon rind in the top of a double boiler.
- Cook and continue beating until the mixture thickens.
- Stir in the lemon juice and the rum, then chill briefly.
- Pour the sauce over the cheesecake and serve.
- NOTE: This very unusual cheesecake is a traditional Russian Easter dish.
- In the old days, the custom was to decorate it with paper flowers or religious emblems and have the priest come by and bless it.
- Back then, it was made in a special pyramid-shaped form, but you can make it in an ordinary red clay flower pot.
- Visually, the effect is quite striking, and the drainage hole allows the excess whey to escape.
- To make paskha, you will need a large flower pot and some cheesecloth.
- The paskha will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks, but be sure to make it at least three days in advance.
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