Savory Crab Cheesecake Recipes

SEAFOOD CHEESECAKE- SAVORY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300^. Combine crackers and butter, mix well together. Butter or spray a 1 1/2 quart ovenproof casserole dish;line the bottom with waxed paper or parchment paper and butter or spray this paper too. Sprinkle 1/2 the crumb mixture on bottom of dish;reserve remainder of crumb mixture for top; set aside.
• In food processor fitted with a metal blade, finely chop onion. Add remaining ingredients, except reserved cracker crumb mixture. Process mixture 45 seconds ,until smooth. Pour into prepared dish; sprinkle with reserved cracker crumbs.
• Place dish in larger pan; place both in oven and fill larger pan with boiling water to about 2 inch deep. Bake 1 hour-until a knife inserted in cheesecake 1 inch from center comes out clean.
• Turn off oven; let cheesecake remain in oven for 30 minutes.Remove from oven. Cool on a wire rack until room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until cold - about 4 hours or overnight.
• To Unmold: Run a metal spatula or long knife along edge of pan; invert onto serving plate; remove wax paper; garnish with lemon zest and bagel chip, if desired.

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.

CREAMY CRAB CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom of the greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Place pan on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325°. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sour cream until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low just until combined. Add onion, lemon juice, seafood seasoning, hot pepper sauce and pepper; beat just until blended. Fold in crab. Pour over crust. Return pan to baking sheet. , Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen. Cool 1 hour longer. Spread remaining sour cream over top. Refrigerate overnight. , Remove sides of pan. Let cheesecake stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with seafood seasoning if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

SAVORY CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• For the crust: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of four 4-inch springform pans with nonstick spray.
• Mix the cracker crumbs, butter and pecans in a medium bowl until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pans. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool the pans on a rack.
• Once completely cool, spray the sides of the pans with cooking spray and line with strips of parchment.
• For the Cheddar-pimento cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, pimentos, Worcestershire, hot sauce and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied bacon and scallion greens.
• For the blue cheese cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, blue cheese, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the dates and shallots. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the candied walnuts and a drizzle of honey.
• For the mozzarella-basil cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, cream and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Fold in the chopped basil. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment. Top with the cherry tomatoes, drizzles of balsamic syrup and olive oil and a sprig of basil.
• For the goat cheese-herb cheesecake: Add the cream cheese, goat cheese, cream, parsley, rosemary, lemon zest, Worcestershire to taste and some salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Beat together using an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture on top of one of the cooled crusts in the pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Spread the jam over top. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, unmold the sides of the pan from the cake and peel off the parchment.

CRAB AND WILD MUSHROOM CHEESECAKE

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.

SAVORY CRAB CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Sprinkle bottom of greased 9-inch spring form pan with cornmeal; set aside.
• In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
• Add the salt, pepper, sour cream and whole grain mustard.
• Stir in the eggs, monterey jack cheese and crab.
• Pour over cornmeal.
• Place pan on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
• Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool for 1 hour.
• NOTE: top of cheesecake may crack.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• Remove sides of pan.
• Mix topping measurements of diced red onion with sugar salt and red wine vinegar; marinate in refrigerator at least one hour.
• Mix the topping measurements of sour cream with chopped chives and spread over top
• Drain marinated onions, pat dry with paper towel and sprinkle on top of sour cream.
• Serve with assorted crackers.

SAVORY CRAB CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press mixture in bottom of ungreased springform pan. Bake 5-9 minutes (until light golden brown).
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat filling ingredients except eggs and crabmeat on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Stir in crabmeat. Pour filling over crust. Bake an additional 40-50 minutes (use 9" pan). Cool for 30 minutes.
• With a knife, loosen edges of cheesecake. Cool an additional 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
• Serve with cocktail sauce and crackers.