Key Lime Cheesecake With Tropical Dried Fruit Chutney Recipes

TROPICAL DRIED-FRUIT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into heavy medium saucepan. Add bean, Sherry, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Add all dried fruits; return to simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer until Sherry is almost evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in enough pineapple juice by tablespoonfuls to moisten chutney. Transfer to bowl, cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours. (Chutney can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Remove vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, and star anise from chutney. Mix in mint and cilantro and serve.
• *Brown star-shaped seedpods; available in the spice section of some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Asian markets.

KEY LIME CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan. In medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in remaining crust ingredients on low speed just until crumbly. Press evenly in bottom of pan.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Wrap outside of pan, bottom and side, with heavy-duty foil. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in 2 eggs, one at a time, on low speed just until well blended. Beat in 2 tablespoons lime peel, 2 tablespoons lime juice and the cornstarch. Fold in sour cream until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes or until side of cheesecake is set and slightly puffed but center still moves slightly when pan is tapped. Cool in pan on cooling rack 15 minutes.
• Run knife along side of pan to loosen cheesecake. Refrigerate uncovered about 3 hours or until chilled. Cover and refrigerate at least 9 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• In heavy 1-quart saucepan, mix 1 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons lime peel and 2/3 cup lime juice with wire whisk. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and 2 eggs. Cook over medium heat about 8 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon (do not boil). Run knife along side of pan to loosen cheesecake; remove side of pan. Spread curd over top of cheesecake. Store in refrigerator.

KEY LIME CHEESECAKE I

Steps:

• Combine cookie or graham cracker crumbs with butter or margarine. Press into bottom and partially up sides of 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate.
• In a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer the cream cheese, sugar, lime peel, and cornstarch until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending just until smooth. Add key lime juice with mixer on low. Finish mixing by hand. Do not over beat, or cake will crack during baking. Pour batter into prepared crust.
• Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 55 to 65 minutes, or until set. To minimize cracking, place a shallow pan half full of hot water on lower rack during baking.
• Turn oven off, and let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes with the door open at least 4 inches. Remove from oven. Refrigerate cake overnight, and up to three days.