Warm Roquefort Cheesecake with oven roasted tomatoes & basil oil

Cheese, tomatoes and basil, it is a recipe for a guaranteed winner!

Here is what you will need:

Ingredients: serves 4

For the cheesecake base

85g/3oz fresh white bread

45g/1 1/2oz unsalted butter

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

For the cheesecake filling

100g/3 1/2oz full fat cream cheese

75g/2 1/2oz Roquefort cheese (or similar)

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon cornflour

1 tablespoon double cream

squeeze of fresh lemon juice

For the roasted tomatoes

20 cherry tomatoes on the vine

olive oil

salt

For the basil oil

30g/1oz basil

75ml/2 1/2 fl oz extra virgin olive oil

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190c/375f. Butter the fluted bases and sides (I used 8cm/3inch flan tins).

For the cheesecake base, put the bread onto a food processor or blender and whizz until it has turned into fine crumbs. Melt the butter over a gentle heat in a saucepan, tip in the breadcrumbs, season and stir to combine. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of the flan tins, pressing down with the back of a spoon to ensure an even layer. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the base is golden - keep watch as it can overcook very easily. Keep the oven on for roasting the tomatoes.

For the filling, cream together all the ingredients and divide the mix between the flan tins. Return to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden and just set. There should be a slight wobble when you shake the tins. Remove the cheesecakes from the oven and allow to cool slightly before removing from the tins.

Split the tomato vine so there are 3-5 tomatoes per person (depending on size). Place them on a baking tray, drizzle over some olive oil and season with salt. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes or until the skins start to blister.

Meanwhile make the basil oil, place the basil leaves in the blender along with extra virgin olive oil. Pulse until the mixture is moving freely, if you over blend it, it can turn the leaves brown. Strain through a sieve and leave aside for plating.

To serve, place each cheesecake on a plate, top with the roasted tomatoes and drizzle around the basil oil. Serve immediately.

ENJOY!