Middle Eastern · Dessert
Middle Eastern Sweet Cheese Pies
A Middle Eastern take on sweet cheese pastry: a crisp, buttery shortcrust shell cradling a silky orange-and-vanilla-scented ricotta and cream cheese filling, finished with crushed pistachios and a trickle of warm honey.
$1
30 minsPrep
25 minsCook
95 minsTotal
MediumLevel
Nutrition per serving
479Calories
11.1gProtein
28.3gFat
45.7gCarbs
20.5gSugar
1.3gFiber
389mgSodium
150mgChol
15.9gSat Fat
155mgPotassium
129mgCalcium
2mgIron
0.3mcgVitamin B12
1.6mgVitamin C
0gPolyol
0gAllulose
0.5gAlcohol
vegetarian
sweet-spot
hidden-gems
Instructions
1
Rub cold cubed butter into the sifted flour, sugar and salt until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
2
Add the ice water a little at a time and bring together into a smooth dough; do not overwork. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
3
Roll the chilled dough out on a lightly floured surface and line two 8cm individual tart tins, trimming the edges. Chill the lined tins for 10 minutes while the oven heats to 190C.
4
Blind-bake the shells with baking beans for 10 minutes, then remove the beans and bake a further 5 minutes until just set and pale gold.
5
Meanwhile, beat the drained ricotta and cream cheese together until smooth, then whisk in the sugar, egg yolk, orange zest and vanilla extract until the filling is silky.
6
Divide the cheese filling between the two part-baked shells, smoothing the tops level.
7
Bake at 170C for 18-20 minutes until the filling is set at the edges with a gentle wobble in the centre.
8
Cool the pies on a wire rack to room temperature, then scatter over the crushed pistachios and drizzle with warmed honey just before serving.
Serves
2 portions ·
2 adults, 0 over 10, 0 under 10
Ingredients
- 2.1 oz60g sifted all purpose flour
- 1.2 oz35g cold, cubed butter
- 0.3 oz8g sugar white
- 0 oz1g salt
- 0.5 oz15g ice cold water
- 3.2 oz90g drained ricotta
- 0.9 oz25g softened cream cheese
- 0.8 oz22g sugar white
- 7/87/8 egg yolks, beaten (14g)
- 0.2 oz5g zested orange
- 0.1 oz3g vanilla extract
- 0.3 oz8g crushed pistachio
- 0.4 oz10g warmed, for drizzling honey
