Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council of Broward County members recall a cheesecake made with habaneros brought in by a member. That recipe is no longer around, but this recipe might be a good substitute. Jalapeño adds a hot kick mellowed by creamy cheesecake. The infused syrup can be used for cocktails, too.
Ingredients
- 2 cups ripe mango, cut in cubes, plus additional sliced mango for top of cake, if desired
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ⅓ cup Jalapeño Syrup
- 1 lb. (2 8-oz packages) Philadelphia cream cheese, room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups sour cream
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 2 jalapeños, sliced in rings
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line outside of a springform pan with foil to prevent water from seeping in. Have a larger pan ready to use as a bain-marie.
Make Jalapeño Syrup: Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to boil. Add jalapeños, seeds and all, and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Refrigerate leftover syrup.
Combine 1/3 cup cooled syrup with mango and lime juice in food processor and puree until smooth. Set aside.
Combine cream cheese and sugar in mixing bowl and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla, salt and sour cream and blend well. Stir in pureed mango mixture. Pour into springform pan. Place in larger pan. Fill larger pan with hot water. Bake for 45 minutes, and remove both pans from oven and let cheesecake cool in hot water bath. When cool, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. At serving time, carefully remove sides of pan. Decorate top of cheesecake with mango slices if you want.
