Mango Cheesecake

By Surbhi Sahni, Pastry Chef, Devi Restaurant

Crust
2½ cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 ½ sticks cold unsalted butter
2 tablespoons ice cold water
1 ½ cups slivered almonds
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons clarified butter, melted

Mango Cheesecake Filling
¾ pound cream cheese, cut into cubes and softened
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs
1 ¾ cup (15 ounces) mango puree
2 teaspoons lime juice

Passion Fruit-Mango Sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon water
¾ teaspoon corn syrup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup passion fruit puree (available in specialty food stores and online)
¼ cup mango puree

Assembly
individual mango cheesecakes
½ cup sugar
Passion Fruit-Mango Sauce
2 fresh mangoes, peeled and julienned

Crust:Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9×18 inch baking sheet and set aside. Place the flour and sugar in a food processor and pulse to combine well. Add the butter and pulse until it has a breadcrumb consistency. Then, add the water and pulse for 4 short bursts. Flatten the mixture onto the greased baking sheet and cool in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, then turn the baking sheet 180 degrees and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Cool on a rack. Place the crust in a food processor and process into fine crumbs. Add the almonds and pulse in 4 short bursts. Add ½ cup of butter and pulse in 6 short bursts. At this point the mixture should have a breadcrumb consistency and should come together easily when handled. Take the 9 individual cylinder molds (3 inches high and 2 inches in diameter; with no base) and cover one end with aluminum foil so that the foil completely covers the outside of the cylinder. Place on a baking sheet, foil side down. Brush the inside of the mold with melted butter including the foil bottom. Put in a tablespoon of the above prepared crust in each, press it down to flatten it evenly at the bottom and chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Bake at 350ºF until the crust has a deep golden brown color, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely before adding the filling.

Mango Cheesecake Filling:  Preheat the oven to 300ºF. Place the cream cheese in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add sugar and blend until smooth. Be sure to scrape down the sides with a spatula. Add eggs and pulse until well blended. Pour the puree and the lime juice into this mixture and blend for 3 minutes. Divide the mixture equally among the molds. Take a deep baking pan and place the filled molds in the pan. Add cold water in the pan so that the water level reaches ¾ the height of the molds. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Carefully turn the pan 180 degrees and bake for another 20 minutes. At this point, turn off the oven and leave the cheesecakes inside the oven for about 30 minutes. Remove molds from the pan and cool to room temperature. When the molds are cool, remove the foil and cover the bottom of each mold with plastic wrap. Chill overnight before use.

Passion Fruit-Mango Sauce:Put sugar, water and corn syrup in a pan and caramelize over a low flame until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add butter immediately. After the butter melts halfway, add the puree and cook for another minute or so until smooth. Cool the sauce and serve it at room temperature.

Assembly:Take the cheesecakes and run a small knife around the edge of the mold to loosen them. Carefully push the cheesecake down so that the cheesecake stands on the crust base. Sprinkle the top of each cake evenly with 1 ½ teaspoons of sugar and burn it with a propane or butane torch. Circulate the torch for even coloring. Once the sugar melts, bubbles and turns to a golden color, allow to cool for about a minute before serving. To serve, place cheesecake in the middle of each plate; drizzle 2 tablespoons of sauce around it and put some julienned mango in a heap on the side. Serve immediately.