I'm looking for an Italian-style ricotta cheesecake, one without a lot of cream cheese in it.

Light and lemon-flavored would be ideal.

magdance
  • Posted by: magdance
  • February 21, 2013
  • 16962 views
  • 11 Comments

11 Comments

cookbookchick February 21, 2013
Here's my own recipe for Ricotta Cheesecake:
butter, softened
½ cup almonds (I used sliced almonds)
1 ½ pounds ricotta cheese
4 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons AP flour
¾ cup sugar
1 lemon, grated rind & juice
1 small orange, grated rind & juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
1. Butter a 10-inch springform pan. Grind almonds in a food processor and use them to coat the pan.
2. Place ricotta cheese food processor and process until very smooth, about 1 minute. Add egg yolks, sugar, flour, zests, juices (about 1/4 cup total), and salt. Process until well blended and smooth.
3. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold in ricotta mixture until well combined.
4. Scrape mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 325 until lightly browned on top. Watch carefully -- mine was done in less than an hour.
*****
 
sdebrango February 21, 2013
This is my Mothers recipe, it's very old and was (according to my Mom) handed down from my Aunt in Italy. I posted it on my blog http://apuginthekitchen.com/2012/03/01/italian-cheesecake/ It has no cream cheese at all.
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx February 21, 2013
Lidia Bastianich has a good one: http://www.lidiasitaly.com/recipes/detail/1129
 
Melissa H. February 21, 2013
Here is a great recipe for ricotta cheesecake, adapted from Ready for Dessert: http://smellslikebrownies.com/2011/05/25/ricotta-cheesecake/
 
fionula February 21, 2013
Sicilian Ricotta Cheesecake
Gattò di Ricotta
Nick Malgieri, Great Italian Desserts

Orange instead of lemon but lovely and simple
 
ChefJune February 22, 2013
I also would go with Nick Malgieri's recipes. He's a master. His recipes work, and that book is a gem.
 
cookinginvictoria February 21, 2013
This is not a traditional cheesecake, per se, but it does use fresh ricotta cheese, has a lovely, subtle lemon flavor and is very light in texture. It is really delicious . . . one of my favorite recipes on the food52 site. http://food52.com/recipes/10436-louisa-s-cake
 
drbabs February 21, 2013
This cake is very light, and only uses well drained ricotta cheese. You could substitute lemon zest for the orange, and leave out the chocolate chips. http://food52.com/recipes/10457-cannoli-cake
 
trampledbygeese February 21, 2013
I don't know of any recipes online, but the book, The Italian Cooking Encyclopedia by Capalbo, Whiteman, Wrigth and Boggiano has in my opinion one of the best ricotta cheese cake recipes in it. It's not an easy book to get your hands on these days, but a lot of libraries still have it. It's a real gem of a book and I suspect my local Italian-style bakery uses it for all their desserts.
 
cookbookchick February 21, 2013
I just checked -- Amazon will link you to a bunch of buying options for this book.
 
magdance February 21, 2013
I found one not too expensive on e-bay and have queried the seller about author's name, not sure it's the same one. Lots of good suggestions from the hotline.
 
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