Roasted Banana and Raw-milk Mahon Cheesecake, Quince, Burnt Mahon Marshmallow Ice Cream, Nora Picada Graham, and Marcona Almond Nougatine

Adapted by StarChefs.com
September 2014
Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

Cheesecake
340 grams 6-month raw mahon cheese, cut into 1/4-inch dice
200 grams water
340 grams cream cheese
114 grams sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
85 grams goat yogurt
260 grams roasted banana purée
Nora Picada Graham Tuile and Crumbs
160 grams graham cracker crumbs
100 grams isomalt
80 grams Spanish wildflower honey
40 grams oats
10 grams water
1 pinch salt
10 grams Nora chiles
Quince Purée
430 grams quince, cut into 1/2-inch dice
400 grams water
50 grams pineapple juice
Burnt Mahon Marshmallow Ice Cream
300 grams sugar
626 grams egg whites
626 grams whole milk
50 grams Spanish wildflower honey
8 grams xanthan gum
200 grams 4-month mahon cheese, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Marcona Almond Nougatine
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup raw Marcona almonds
1/3 cup dehydrated banana chips
1 pinch sea salt
To Assemble and Serve
Nora Picada Graham Crumbs
edible flowers

METHOD:

Cheesecake

Heat oven to 325ºF. To a food processor, add Mahon cheese and water and process until smooth. Add cream cheese and sugar and process until smooth. In a bowl, lightly beat eggs and fold in flour. Add cheese-sugar mixture and whisk until smooth. Fold in yogurt and banana purée. Pour batter into 4x2-inch round silicone molds. Transfer to water bath and bake 25 minutes; let cool. Remove from the water bath and place in freezer for 2 hours.

Nora Picada Graham Tuile and Crumbs

Heat oven to 325°F In a food processor, combine all ingredients except Nora chiles. Transfer mixture to a silicone mat and spread it flat. Bake at 325°F for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle the reserved Nora chiles and salt on the hot mixture. Break the mixture into pieces and reserve smaller bits for crumbs.

Quince Purée

In a small pot over medium heat, bring quince and water to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until water has completely evaporated and quince begins to caramelize. Transfer to blender with pineapple juice and purée.

Burnt Mahon Marshmallow Ice Cream

In a blender, pulse sugar until super fine. Add egg whites and blend 45 seconds. Slowly blend in milk, followed by honey. Shear in xanthan, increasing speed to high. Add Mahon cheese and purée. Pass mixture through a chinois and chill in refrigerator. Process mixture in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Marcona Almond Nougatine

In a large, heavy saucepan over high heat, cook sugar until it turns golden brown. Stir in almonds and cook 2 minutes. Add banana chips and sea salt, and remove from heat. Pour mixture onto a sheet tray lined with a silicone mat and let cool completely. Break off pieces of cooled nougatine and pulse in a food processor 8 to 10 times into coarse lumps.

To Assemble and Serve

Pop the semi-frozen cheesecake onto a serving plate, roll edges in crushed Nora Picada Graham Crumbs and hold in refrigerator to temper. Plate cheesecake with quenelle of Mahon Marshmallow Ice Cream, and burn ice cream with a blowtorch. Garnish with Quince Purée, a Nora Picada Graham Tuile, Marcona Almond Nougatine, and edible flowers.