Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

Lemon Meringue Cheesecake is a delicious dessert that combines the freshness of lemon with the sweetness of meringue. Here’s the recipe to prepare this delightful dessert.

Ingredients

• 250 g of digestive biscuits (or similar)
• 100 g of melted butter
• 500 g of cream cheese (like Philadelphia)
• 120 g of powdered sugar
• Grated zest of 2 lemons
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 4 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
• A pinch of salt

For the meringue:

• 200 g of granulated sugar
• 4 egg whites (remember, separated from the yolks listed above)
• A pinch of cream of tartar (if available)

Preparation

1. Start by finely grinding the biscuits and mixing them with the melted butter. Spread this mixture over a springform pan previously lined with parchment paper and press well to form a uniform base. Refrigerate to set for about 30 minutes.
2. Prepare the cream. In a bowl, mix the cream cheese with the powdered sugar, add the grated lemon zest and lemon juice until you get a smooth mixture.
3. In another container, beat the egg yolks and incorporate them into the cream cheese mixture. Whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they form soft peaks and gently fold them into the mixture.
4. Pour the cream over the biscuit base and bake in a preheated oven at 160 °C for about 50-60 minutes or until the cake seems firm but slightly wobbly in the center.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the meringue. Whip the egg whites with a pinch of cream of tartar until you get a firm foam, then gradually add the granulated sugar and continue whipping until you obtain a glossy and firm meringue.
6. Once the cheesecake is cooked, take it out of the oven and let it cool slightly. Then, spread the meringue on top and use a kitchen torch to lightly caramelize it.
7. Let it cool completely before removing the cheesecake from the pan and serving it.

Trivia

Cheesecake is a dessert of ancient origin that has spread around the world with local variations. The lemon meringue version has its roots in American tradition and represents a fresher and lighter interpretation compared to the classic New York Cheesecake. The meringue, with its golden appearance and its crunchy outside and soft inside texture, crowns the dessert with a touch of elegance and flavor.