Quesada Pasiega: A Delectable Spanish Cheese Cake
Quesada Pasiega is a traditional Spanish dessert from the region of Cantabria. It's a creamy, cheesecake-like dessert made with fresh cheese and flavored with lemon zest. Here's a basic recipe for Quesada Pasiega:
Ingredients
- 1 lb Fresh cheese (such as quark or ricotta) (450g)
- 1 cup Sugar
- 4 Large eggs
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ½ cup All-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp Ground cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ tsp Vanila extract (optional)
- Butter for greasing the baking dish
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a round baking dish (usually about 9 inches or 23 cm in diameter) with butter.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the fresh cheese and sugar. Mix well until the sugar is fully incorporated into the cheese.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. The mixture should become smoother and creamier as you add the eggs.
- Stir in the lemon zest, ground cinnamon (if using), and vanilla extract (if using). These ingredients will add flavor to the quesada
- Gradually add the all-purpose flour while continuously mixing. Make sure the flour is fully incorporated into the mixture, and you have a smooth batter.
- Pour the batter into the greased baking dish, spreading it evenly
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-50 minutes or until the top of the quesada is golden brown and the center is set. You can check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when the quesada is ready.
- Once done, remove the quesada from the oven and let it cool in the baking dish for a while. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the Quesada Pasiega has cooled, you can refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight before serving. This will help it set further and enhance the flavors.
- Before serving, you can dust the top of the quesada with powdered sugar for a decorative touch.
- Slice and serve chilled. Quesada Pasiega is often enjoyed as a dessert, snack, or even for breakfast with a cup of coffee.