Sour Cherry Cheesecake (Hungarian Style)

This Meggyes Turotorta or sour cherry cheesecake is using Turo, which is Hungarian cottage cheese. It is not the same as the regular cottage cheese you find in the Canadian grocery stores though. Your best bet is to go to health store, European store, or cheese specialty store. If you still cannot find them and yet wanting to try this recipe, find soft curd cottage cheese or make yourself as I sometimes do :)

3/4 cup graham wafer crumbs (of course in Hungary we used other type, we called it haztartasi keksz, but basically you can use any sweet cookie crumbs)

2 Tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbsp soft butter

1 lb dry soft curd cottage cheese (again, turo the Hungarian cottage cheese isnt the same here in Canada, turo is more dry rather with liquid or creamy)

3 eggs, separated

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup thick cream (heavy cream)

1 tsp grated lemon rind

2 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup fresh sour cherries

1/4 cup walnuts

Mix the crumbs with sugar, cinnamon and butter. Pat on bottom and side up of a greased springform pan

Press the cheese through a sieve (or food processor - just a few pulses will do) to make it smooth.

Beat yolks, adding the sugar gradually and beating continuously until light and fluffy. Add in cheese. Add salt, cream, lemon rind, cornstarch, vanilla. Mix thoroughly.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the mixture. Spread a little mixture over the crust and sprinkle with the chopped nuts. Place cherries on top of nuts then poured the whole cheese mixture.

Bake in a moderate oven (325ºF) for 55 to 60 minutes. When done, open the oven door and leave the cake inside to cool for 1/2 hour.

Serve chilled.

Enjoy~

VARIATION: You can mix cherries into the cheese mixture instead. So crumbs, cheese and cherries mixture, then nuts.