Traditionally, Shavuot is celebrated with sweet cheesecakes and blintzes, redolent of cinnamon, raisins, and sugar. It is what we eat as we celebrate the giving of the Torah at Sinai. The basic unsweetened cheesecake is a neutral palette. It invites creativity! Many cultures have a tradition of preparing savory cheesecakes. For this year's celebration, surprise your guests with something a little out of the ordinary. Prepare a piquant cheesecake for a special holiday treat.
The Ancient Greeks are credited with inventing the cheesecake. Archaeologists discovered cheese molds from 2000 BCE on the island of Samos. In Ancient Greece, cheesecake was prepared for Olympic athletes. The most ancient recipe for cheesecake was written down by the Greek physician Aegimus. The ingredients for his cake were cheese, honey, and flour. He instructed cooks to pound the cheese and honey together with a mortar and pestle. Flour was to be added to form a type of batter. The resulting dough was baked in a wood-burning oven. This cheesecake was believed to give the athletes energy.
In 146 BCE Rome conquered Greece. The Romans adopted the cheesecake, and added a few special touches to it. They mixed the cheese with eggs, and lined the baking vessel with fresh bay leaves. Marcus Cato, a Roman politician, was the first to record a recipe for this cake called libum. Below is an excerpt from his agricultural writings in which he explains how to prepare libum.
"Libum to be made as follows: 2 pounds cheese well crushed in a mortar; when it is well crushed, add in 1 pound bread-wheat flour or, if you want it to be lighter, just 1/2 a pound, to be mixed with the cheese. Add one egg and mix all together well. Make a loaf of this, with the leaves under it, and cook slowly in a hot fire under a brick."
The Romans spread the cheesecake throughout their empire. Each new place added its own special touch to the recipe, transforming it. Today there are many cheesecake recipes from all over the world. Here are some savory cheesecake recipes you may prepare for your degustation this Shavuot.
Savory Cheesecake With Caramelized Shallots And Olives Adapted from The Chubby Vegetarian
For the crust:
1 ½ cups breadcrumbs (or ground almonds for a gluten-free crust)
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
For the filling:
3 eggs
6 oz. soft goat cheese
15 oz. ricotta cheese
¼ cup white wine
2 shallots, minced
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
1-teaspoon fresh, minced rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oil a 9' spring form pan.
Grind all the crust ingredients together in a food processor.
Press this paste to the bottom of the baking pan.
Bake the crust for about 7 minutes.
Remove the crust from the oven.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan.
Sautée the shallots until they are golden-brown.
Add the wine, and reduce the heat.
Simmer until all the wine is absorbed.
Place this shallot mixture and all the other filling ingredients in a food processor.
Mix into a paste.
Pour the cheese mixture over the crust.
Bake for 50 minutes.
Allow to cool.
Serve garnished with assorted cured olives, aged balsamic vinegar, and fresh parsley.
2 cups breadcrumbs (or ground almonds for a gluten-free recipe).
For the filling:
1-¼ cups grated Gruyere cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
20 oz. cream cheese
¼ cup heavy cream
4 eggs
¼ cup chopped scallion
10 oz., baby spinach leaves
½ tsp. Dijon mustard
½ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
¼ tsp. paprika
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mix the breadcrumbs and butter.
Press this dough into an oiled 9' spring form pan.
Bake for approximately 10 minutes, until it just starts to brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Microwave the baby spinach leaves for 3 minutes in a covered glass container.
Mix the cooked spinach with the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl.
Pour the cheese mixture over the crust.
Bake for 65 minutes.
Serve warm with fresh sliced fruit.
For an easy-to-prepare yet exotic feast, try a savory cheesecake this Shavuot. With the addition of some fresh baguettes and a crisp green salad, a savory cheesecake becomes the centerpiece of an unforgettable Shavuot feast.
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