Mini Cheesecake with Pistachio Crust

Adapted from: http://rachelsrecipebook.com/?p=302

I found this recipe using pistachio nuts in the cheesecake base online and just needed to try it out. I love recipes that uses nuts in making yummy tasty crust.

I tweak the recipe as I needed to make this for a party of 18 pax. I also decided against using green tea as it is a very much acquired taste for many, including myself.

For the crust

1. 1/2 cup roasted, shelled, unsalted pistachios (roasted at 170C for 9 minutes)
2. half a packet of digestive biscuits (this will vary depending on the desired texture)
3. 2 Tbsp sugar
4. 70gms of melted butter(this will vary depending on the desired texture)

For the cheesecake

1. 3 packages of Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
2. 1/2 cup of sugar
3. 1 tsp vanilla
4. 3 eggs (break one egg, beat, and use half)
5. 1 Tbsp lemon juice
6. 1tsp grated lemon skin

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 150C  and line a muffin pan with paper liners or grease well.
2. In the Thermomix, pulse the pistachios and graham crackers until fine. Add butter and sugar and continue pulsing until crumbly. If too dry, add more butter. If too wet, add more digestive biscuits.
3. Press the crumbly crust into the bottoms of the liners. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.
4. In the meantime, mix togther cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar. Add the eggs and lemon juice and grated lemon skin and mix until just combined and smooth. Pour over crusts. I used Speed 5 for close to a minute to get a nice fine smooth mixture
5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until the centers are almost set. Cool and then place in refrigerator for 2 hours.
6. I topped my mini cheesecake with raspberries for a nice refreshing taste.

The cookie base after being pressed into individual muffin case and getting ready to be bake.

I used a spoon to slowly pour in the cream cheese mixture after the base has cooled down.

This is how the mini cheesecake look like right after coming out from the oven.

After it has cooled, it has reduced in height and has a nice flat surface.

nice lovely mix of cheese and biscuit. I like them with a thick base.

Garnished with fresh raspberries and ready to go.