Basque cheesecake with raisin crumbs

Method

Basque Cheesecake

1. Pre heat your oven on bake to 210C and set the rack towards the bottom of the oven. Using a whisk, mixer or blender combine all the batter ingredients until smooth.
2. Take a 25cm springform tin and line well with baking paper. Ensure the paper comes up at least 5cm past the top of the edges of the tin. The mixture will rise up when the cake is cooking, but don’t worry it will sink back down.
3. Pour the batter in the tin and place it into the oven on the lower rack setting – checking after 35 minutes. You want the centre to be a little wobbly but not runny. The cheesecake should have a slightly burnt top. If it’s still too light and wobbly, turn the heat up and cook for another couple of minutes. Be careful as it will turn black very quickly!
4. After this time ,turn the oven off. Leave the oven door slightly open for a further 30 minutes before removing to a bench for one hour, before placing into the fridge to chill completely. Overnight is best.
5. Serve with the raisin crumbs, fresh strawberries and the roasted mandarin syrup.

Raisin Crumb

1. Pre-heat your oven on bake to 180C.
2. Place the butter, flour and brown sugar into a food processor and blitz until smooth Spread out onto a lined baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. After this time stir the crumb mixture and sprinkle over the raisins.
3. Place back into the oven for a further 10 minutes.
4. After this time, remove the crumbs, stir again and allow to cool.

Roasted Mandarin Syrup

1. Pre heat oven or pizza oven to 180C.
2. Place half mandarins onto a baking tray cut side up Sprinkle over brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Place tray into oven for 15 mins.
4. Remove and test mandarins. They need to be soft but still holding shape Allow to cool before squeezing through a sieve to remove any seeds.
5. Pour juice into a small pan and then put on a low heat to reduce syrup by ¾.
6. Allow to cool before use.

Assembly

1. Slice the cheesecake into small pieces
2. Place the raisin crumb on one side of the cake and sliced strawberries on the other Drizzle the roasted mandarin syrup over the top of the cheesecake.