Indulge in a culinary masterpiece that combines the delicate flavors of crab, the aromatic freshness of pesto, and the rich creaminess of cheesecake. This Crab Pesto Cheesecake is a symphony of textures and tastes, sure to tantalize your palate and impress your guests. Discover the art of crafting this extraordinary dish with our step-by-step recipe, complete with detailed instructions, ingredient lists, and cooking times.
In addition to the main recipe, explore variations that cater to different dietary preferences and taste buds. For a vegetarian alternative, substitute the crab with succulent grilled vegetables, creating a vibrant and flavorful vegetarian pesto cheesecake. Craving a gluten-free option? We've got you covered with a dedicated recipe that uses a delightful almond flour crust, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this delectable treat. And for those who love a spicy kick, try our spicy crab pesto cheesecake, featuring a zesty blend of chili peppers and cayenne pepper, adding a touch of heat to the creamy goodness.
Embrace the culinary journey and experiment with different toppings to complement the cheesecake's unique flavors. From a classic sour cream topping to a tangy salsa verde, let your creativity shine as you craft a presentation that is both visually stunning and tastefully satisfying. Dive into the world of flavors and techniques, and create a Crab Pesto Cheesecake that will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds and those of your loved ones.
PALACE CAFE CRABMEAT CHEESECAKE
Steps:
- Preparing the Pecan Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Finely grind pecans in a food processor. Add flour and salt. Mix well. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and cut in butter, working butter into flour with 2 knives until dough is in crumbs the size of small peas. Add ice water and evenly incorporate into the mixture, which should remain fairly crumbly. Roll out dough to a 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Press dough into a lightly greased 9-inch tart pan, starting with the sides and then the bottom. Bake crust for 20 minutes, or until golden.
- Preparing the Filling:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- In a skillet, saute onion in butter until translucent. Add crabmeat and cook just until heated through, then remove from heat. Blend cream cheese until smooth in a mixer fitted with a paddle, or by hand using a wooden spoon. Add Creole cream cheese and mix well. Mix in eggs 1 at a time. Gently fold in the crabmeat mixture. Stir in hot sauce and season, to taste, with salt and white pepper. Spoon filling into prepared crust. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until firm to the touch.
- Preparing the Meuniere Sauce and Garnish:
- Combine lemon, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce in a heavy saucepot. Reduce over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wire whisk until mixture becomes thick and syrupy. Whisk in heavy whipping cream. Reduce heat to low and slowly blend in butter, 1 cube at a time, adding additional butter only after each cube has been completely incorporated into the sauce. This process is called "mounting the butter." Remove from heat and continue to stir. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Strain through a fine strainer and keep warm.
- Saute mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter until tender and all moisture has cooked off. Excess water from the mushrooms may break your sauce if it isn't cooked off. Stir mushrooms into Meuniere sauce. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan and warm crab fingers over low heat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To serve:
- Slice cheesecake and top each piece with warm Meuniere sauce and 3 crab claws.
CAJUN CRAB CHEESECAKE
Pick up traditional spicy-hot Bayou seasonings in this surprising appetizer, with and easy canned crab meat filling in a bread-crumb crust.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Appetizer
Time 5h50m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 325°F. In medium bowl, combine all crust ingredients; mix well. Press in bottom and 1 inch up sides of ungreased 9-inch springform pan.
- In large bowl, combine cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and horseradish; beat with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add sherry; beat well. Beat mixture at high speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in crabmeat and hot pepper sauce just until combined. Pour into crust-lined pan.
- Bake at 325°F. for 50 to 60 minutes or until filling is set. Cool in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours before serving.
- Just before serving, remove sides of pan; place cheesecake on serving platter. Garnish with bell pepper. Serve immediately, or let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. If desired, serve with assorted crackers.
Nutrition Facts : Fat 3, ServingSize 1/16 of Recipe
PESTO CHEESECAKE
Make and share this Pesto Cheesecake recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Richard-NYC
Categories Quick Breads
Time 1h
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Butter spring form pan, coat with breadcrumbs--set aside.
- Beat cream cheese, ricotta and Romano cheese with electric mixer.
- Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
- Seperate batter in half--add pesto to one half and sundried tomatoes to the other half.
- Layer in spring pan.
- Sprinkle pignoli nuts on top Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
- Cool in pan.
- Cover and wrap in plastic.
- Refrigerate 8 hours or overnite.
- Slide knife around edge of pan and remove to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 212.1, Fat 18.3, SaturatedFat 10.2, Cholesterol 103.2, Sodium 269.4, Carbohydrate 4.7, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 1.9, Protein 7.8
CRABMEAT CHEESECAKE WITH PECAN CRUST (CREOLE)
This recipe comes from the website gumbopages.com, & is said to be somewhat different from some other similar cheesecakes in that is uses a pecan nut crust, & this cheesecake is said to be THE appetizer at the Palace Cafe in New Orleans. [NOTE: The recipe actually calls for 3 ounces of Creole cream cheese, but also indicates that since that is not easy to obtain, 3 tablespoons each of plain yogurt & sour cream are a suitable substitute, & that's what I've listed in the recipe.]
Provided by Sydney Mike
Categories Crab
Time 1h43m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- FOR THE PECAN CRUST: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grind the pecans, flour & salt in a food processor until fine, then transfer to a bowl.
- Add butter, working it into the flour until there are crumbs the size of small peas.
- Toss in the ice water, & using fingers, lift up the dough to incorporate evenly. [The dough will remain fairly crumbly].
- Starting with the sides, & then the bottom, press the dough into a 9" tart pan.
- Bake crust for about 20 minutes, then allow it to cool before filling. Meanwhile, reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
- FOR THE FILLING: Cook the onion in a little butter over medium heat until translucent.
- Add crabmeat & cook just until heated through, then remove from heat & set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, using a wooden spoon, blend the cream cheese until smooth, then add the yogurt & sour cream. After that add the eggs one at a time.
- Fold this cheese mixture into the crabmeat mixture, & season to taste with salt, pepper & hot sauce.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared & cooled crust, then bake for about 30 minutes until set & firm to the touch.
- FOR THE GARNISH: Saute shallots until translucent, then add mushrooms and 'SWEAT' until just cooked through.
- Add lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce & hot sauce, & cook until the mixture is reduced by 3/4.
- Add heavy cream & cook until reduced by half, then whisk in the butter.
- In a separate saute pan, add crab claw fingers. Salt & pepper to taste, then pour the reduced mixture over the crab claws & keep warm.
- Each slice of cheesecake gets 3 crab claws & 2 tablespoons of the reduced sauce.
CRAB AND WILD MUSHROOM CHEESECAKE
Categories Food Processor Mushroom Bake Cocktail Party Buffet Cream Cheese Gouda Parmesan Bell Pepper Chill Bon Appétit
Yield Serves 16 to 20 as an appetizer
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Make crust:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Press mixture onto bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Bake crust until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool crust while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.
- Make filling:
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and bell pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until liquid evaporates and mushrooms begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Cool.
- Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, salt and pepper in large bowl until mixture is fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then whipping cream. Mix in vegetable mixture, crabmeat, smoked Gouda and chopped parsley.
- Pour filling over crust. Place cheesecake on baking sheet. Bake until cake puffs and browns on top but center moves slightly when pan is shaken, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool. (Cheesecake can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
- Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cheesecake. Release pan sides. Transfer cheesecake to platter. Serve cold or at room temperature with baguette slices.
Tips:
- To ensure a creamy and lump-free filling, use softened cream cheese at room temperature and mix it until smooth before adding other ingredients. - For a more intense crab flavor, use fresh crab meat. If using canned crab meat, drain and flake it well to remove any excess moisture. - For a nuttier flavor in the pesto, use toasted pine nuts. To toast pine nuts, spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. - For a more vibrant green color in the pesto, use fresh basil leaves. If using dried basil, use half the amount called for in the recipe. - To make the cheesecake ahead of time, prepare it through step 6 and then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Before serving, let the cheesecake come to room temperature for 30 minutes. - To store leftover cheesecake, cover it and refrigerate for up to 3 days.Conclusion:
This Crab Pesto Cheesecake is a unique and delicious dish that combines the best of both worlds—the creamy, tangy goodness of cheesecake with the savory, aromatic flavors of crab and pesto. It's perfect for any occasion, from a casual get-together to a holiday party. With its stunning presentation and unforgettable flavor, this cheesecake is sure to impress your guests. So next time you're looking for a special dessert to make, give this Crab Pesto Cheesecake a try. You won't be disappointed!
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