A creamy cheesecake with a zesty lemon flavor, topped with crunchy pine nuts for a delightful balance of textures.
SEMOLINA SPONGE CAKE
CHEESECAKE
HONEY BAKED PINE NUTS & PINE NUT BUTTER
WHITE CHOCOLATE
ASSEMBLY
Step 1
Preheat oven to 180°C and grease a 20cm X 20cm cake tin, lined neatly with baking paper. Prepare semolina sponge cake by adding caster sugar, zest of two lemons and vanilla into a bowl. Use your fingertips to rub it all together.
Step 2
Add mascarpone, eggs and juice from two lemons. Mix well to eradicate lumps - you should have a milky consistency. Add this to sugar mixture along with oil. Mix well. Sieve flour and baking powder into a large bowl, then add semolina and salt. Add liquid mixture in and use a spatula to combine.
Step 3
Pour batter into prepared cake tin and baked for 45-50 mins or until the top is golden brown and a skewer comes out clean from the centre once inserted. Leave to cool before turning out onto a cake rack. Prepare pine nuts by placing them in a heatproof bowl along with honey, sugar and salt. Heat for 20 seconds in microwave until runny. Mix well and pour mixture onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. Baked for 10-12 mins in oven or until nuts are golden brown. Leave to cool on paper and then store in a sealed container.
Step 4
Divide melted white chocolate into two small containers and colour each one pink and yellow. Use a pastry brush to brush the two chocolates on the inside of the four dessert glasses or bowls.
Step 5
Prepare cheesecake by whisking cream to firm peaks. Add ricotta and icing sugar into a mixing bowl and mix well to eliminate lumps. Add mascarpone, lemon and vanilla and mix again. Fold cream into mixture and set aside. To assemble, use a sharp knife to cut the cake into 2cm square cubes of sponge.
Step 6
Transfer lemon curd into a piping bag or spoon a table spoon into bottom of each glass. Keep four nice clusters of candied pine nuts aside for finishing. Add remaining pine nuts into a small blender and blitz on high until you have a smooth paste. If paste is too thick, add small amount of warm water. Spoon a teaspoon of pine nut butter into bottom of each glass.
Step 7
Add a few sponge cubes to each glass and reserve the rest of sponge cake. Pipe or spoon a couple of tablespoons of cheesecake into each dessert glass.
Step 8
Pipe more curd into each glass and add more sponge cubes.
Step 9
Add more cheesecake to each glass and finish with a cluster of candied pine nuts in each. Serve immediately.