Red Pitaya Dragon Fruit cheesecake

 

This was my first time visiting the dragon fruits orchard. It is not a big orchard but I was greeted with neat rows of dragon fruit trees when I reached there. The scarlet dragon fruit bends the green cactus-like branches on the rows of supports. The dragon fruit in the orchard is all grown by natural planting methods. The owner explained dragon fruit is also known as Pitaya, the fruit must reach 100% ripeness, and the redness is bright before it is picked. He advised me to choose the larger, smoother fruit for a better taste. When picking fresh fruit, peeling off the skin, and biting into it, the taste is sweet and tangy, soft, and sticky.

I was carrying two large bags of red dragon fruits (pitaya) from an orchard and began to consider how I could eat this extraordinary beauty and sweetness other than as a fruit. Everyone who enjoys baking wishes to create beautiful and delicious treats. So, I decided to make a fruit cheesecake that was not baked.

In double layers, this pinkish and exquisite no-bake red dragon fruit cheesecake looks quite pretty. You will be astounded at how simple it was. Even though the cake contains white chocolate and sugar, it is not overly sweet and has a zesty lemon flavour.

I made dragon fruit balls to garnish this cheesecake. I would like to point out the dragon fruit jelly balls, which were inspired by the jelly moon cake recipe.

I am using a 6”x3” round aluminium alloy cake tin, it is a non-stick and loose base which easy to release the cake.

INGREDIENTS 

 

Biscuit crust

. 100 g of salted crackers crumbs

. 50 g of butter, melted

 

Cheesecake filling

. 100 g dragon fruit puree

. 1 tbsp of gelatine powder

. 50 ml cold water

. 120 g of cream cheese, room temperature

. 160 ml of plain yogurt

. 2 tsp of lemon juice

. 120 g white chocolate

. 25 g of powder sugar

 

Dragon fruit jelly ball

. 100 g dragon fruit puree

. 1 tsp agar-agar powder

. ½ tsp jelly powder

. 50 g sugar

. 400 ml water

METHOD

 

For the crust: Combine the cracker crumbs and melted butter in a medium-sized bowl. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom of the cake mold. Cover and refrigerator overnight. 

For the filling:

-	Combine the gelatine powder and cold water in a bowl, whisking it well. Set aside for 5 minutes or until spongy. Stand the bowl in a heatproof bowl of hot water and stir until the gelatine dissolves. Let it cool slightly, before adding to the filling mixture.
-	In a heatproof bowl, placed over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
-	In a bowl of the electric mixer, place the cream cheese, yogurt, melted chocolate, powder sugar, and lemon juice. Beat on medium speed until smooth, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed. Add the gelatine mixture and beat until incorporated.
-	Divide the cream cheese mixture into 2 portions. 3 tbsp dragon fruit puree (from 100g puree) was added to a portion of the white cream cheese mixture, gently stirred, then poured into the cake mold and smoothed. Keep the cream cheese mixture in the freezer for 15 minutes or until it is semi-set.
-	Stir in the remaining dragon fruit puree gently with the remaining cream cheese mixture.
-	Remove the semi-set cheesecake from the freezer and gradually pour in the light pink cream cheese mixture, smoothing it out.
-	Refrigerated the entire cake for at least four hours or overnight.

 

For dragon fruit jelly ball

-	In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour the mixture into the round ice cube plastic tray and refrigerate for 1 hour to solidify. Demold for decoration.

 

 

How to Remove the Cake from the Mold

Blow around the edge of the mold with a hairdryer set on medium until it slides down easily when gently pulled down with your hands. If you forcefully drag the mold downward, it will result in an unfinished edge. If the sides of the cake have softened after unmolding, chill it for 15-20 minutes before proceeding.

How to cut slices of unbaked cake

The trick is to use hot water and a hot, clean knife. Clean the knife between slices by dipping it into boiling water and wiping it clean.

 

I hope this delicate and rich dragon fruit cheesecake will appeal to everyone who enjoys desserts. The mix of cakes and fruits will appeal to anyone who likes cake.