Cashel Blue Cheesecake With Pickled Pears

Name: Cashel Blue Cheesecake With Pickled Pears
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 3 h 30 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2/3 cup olive oil; 7 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 2 garlic cloves, minced; salt; pepper; 1 tablespoon mixed peppercorns; 15 ounces canned pears, drained and sliced; 1 1/4 cups crumbs from digestive biscuits (graham crackers may be used, but they are sweeter); 1/2 cup ground walnuts; 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 6 ounces blue cheese, cut into small pieces, Cashel Blue preferred; 6 eggs; 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature; 1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced; 1 tablespoon green onion, chopped; pepper; 10 ounces mixed salad greens (optional)

Submitted by Chocolatl

"A savory first course. From Carole Norman at Crackpots. Adapted from The New Irish Table. Prep time includes time for the pears to marinate. Cook time includes cooling time."

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Ready In:: 3hrs 30mins
Ingredients:: 17
Serves:: 8

ingredients

Pickled Pears
²⁄₃ cup olive oil
7 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon mixed peppercorns
15 ounces canned pears, drained and sliced
Base
1 ¹⁄₄ cups crumbs from digestive biscuits (graham crackers may be used, but they are sweeter)
¹⁄₂ cup ground walnuts
³⁄₄ cup unsalted butter, melted
Filling
6 ounces blue cheese, cut into small pieces, Cashel Blue preferred
6 eggs
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
1 tablespoon green onion, chopped
pepper
For serving
10 ounces mixed salad greens (optional)

directions

Combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and peppercorns in a jar.
Cover tightly and shake until well-blended.
Place pears in a glass bowl and pour the dressing over them.
Cover and refrigerate 2-4 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine biscuit crumbs and scallions in a small bowl.
Blend in butter.
Press into the bottom of a lightly buttered 9" springform pan (or eight 4" springform pans).
Bake until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.
Let cool on a rack for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle blue cheese over base.
Place eggs, cream cheese, chives and green onions in a food processor.
Process until smooth, 10-20 seconds.
Sprinkle with pepper.
Spoon over the blue cheese.
Bake until browned and set, about 25-30 minutes.
Let cool on a rack for 25-30 minutes.
Remove sides of pan(s).
To serve, place slices or individual cheesecakes on a plate, and surround with greens and pears.
Drizzle some of the pear juice over the greens.