Habanero Lime Cheesecake

This recipe came from the food network -- foodtv.com. It was in the show titled "Eat The Heat" with Tyler Florence. I tried this recipe and found it to be very good. I hope you will like it as well.

Recipe courtesy Helen Cook

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups wheat-meal biscuits (or about 26 graham cracker squares) ground to crumbs
  • Pinch salt
  • 1/3 cup melted butter

Filling:

  • 3 habanero peppers
  • 2 tablespoons sugar, plus 1 cup
  • 24 ounces cream cheese
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 lime, zested
  • 1 very juicy or 2 less juicy limes, juiced
  • 1 lime sliced thinly, for garnish
  • 1 whole habenero, for garnish

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Position top rack in the center of the oven. Place a baking pan on the rack below this. Boil water.
  2. Make crust: Mix the crumbs and salt together in a small bowl, then add butter and stir to mix. Set aside 1/4cup for topping. Press the rest into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
  3. Turn on kitchen or stove exhaust fan. Skewer and roast the habaneros over an open flame (gas burner is fine) and set them to steam under a towel. When they are cool enough to handle, put on plastic gloves if desired. Peel and deseed habaneros, then pound in a mortar with the 2 tablespoons of sugar until a coarse paste results.
  4. Cream the cream cheese, then add remaining sugar and salt. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time until incorporated. Add the cream and blend. Beat the zest and lime juice into this mixture. Add the habanero paste last and beat until well mixed. Pour into the crust, then gently tap the pan to level the filling. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs on top.
  5. Pour boiling water into the pan on the ovenís lower rack. Place the cheesecake on the rack above it. Bake for approximately 1 hour or until the cheesecake pulls away from the edge of the pan. Remove from the oven and allow to set for 20 minutes. Wrap and keep in the refrigerator overnight, or if rushed, place in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours.
  6. Garnish, if desired, with slices of lime and place a whole habanero in the center.

Yield: about 16 servings, depending on heat tolerance

Prep Time: 24 hours 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hours 0 minutes

Difficulty: Expert

Submited by chilihead Dan Frye of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

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