Honey Pie
From Greece by Emily Lycopolus
A note from Emily
This pie is probably better described as a Greek-style cheesecake. It’s sweetened with honey and Apricot white balsamic vinegar, so it’s not overly sweet, and it has a slightly coarser texture than New York–style cheesecake thanks to the yogurt and ricotta, which also help it hold its shape. This is definitely worth a try! Serves six
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup honey
- 3 eggs
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp Apricot white balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch springform pan with extra virgin olive oil.
In a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta, yogurt, honey, eggs, and salt until smooth and creamy.
In a small bowl, whisk together 2 Tbsp of the balsamic and the cornstarch to form a creamy, lump-free paste. Drizzle the paste into the ricotta-yogurt mixture and mix well to combine.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few wet crumbs. The center should be set and shouldn’t jiggle when the cheesecake is moved.
Remove the cake from the oven, run a knife around the outside of the cake, and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before removing the ring from around the outside of the pan. Let cool completely before serving.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the remaining 1/4 cup of balsamic to a gentle boil. Swirling the pan to keep the vinegar moving, cook it down for 2–3 minutes, until slightly golden. Gently pour this warm reduction over the cake slices immediately before serving, or drizzle it onto serving plates before placing the slices on top. The vinegar reduction will cool when it touches the cake and create a caramel effect.
*Recipes excerpted from Greece by Emily Lycopolus, 2017
