Savoury Beetroot & Clementine Cheesecake with Pomegranate Mustard dressing

This recipe is adapted from a salad I have been making for a while. One day as I chomped I began to ponder the possibilities of transferring the flavours into a cheesecake.

Dr Oeker’s Vege-Gel came to the rescue in substituting Gelatine, and while I could find little information about how you actually use it, the method I used provided some tasty results. If your a fan of purple wee and a better taste then I would recommend cooking your own fresh Beetroot. If not however, as long as you avoid the washing-up-flavoured economy vacuum packs you will be fine. This is a rich cheesecake with each portion needing the dressing to cut through its creaminess.

You will need a 20cm spring-form tin and the following;

Base:
125g Oatcakes
100g crushed toasted Pistachios
60g butter, melted
2 tablespoons honey

Cheese layer:
300g Boursin Cheese
300g Cream Cheese
200ml Single Cream
2 Satchet of Vege-gel

Garnish:
Handful of Chives
2 cooked Beetroots
2 Clementines

Dressing:
80g Pomegranate seeds
1 Tablespoon Wholegrain Mustard
Juice and zest from half a Lemon


Method:
1. Process the Oatcakes and Pistachios into fine crumbs. Add the butter and honey mixing till combined.
2. Line the tin with baking paper and press the crumb mixture evenly across the base, then refrigerate.
3. Mix the two cheeses together in a bowl until combined.
4. Gently heat the cream with Vege-gel powder stirring constantly. Bring to near boiling point allowing to thicken. When thickened plunge the saucepan into cold water, or run a cold tap against its sides while continuing stirring allowing the mixture to cool.
5. Carefully stir the cream and  cheese mixture together. Then spoon the mixture over the base evenly and refrigerate overnight.
6. For the topping peel clementines and slice into 1/4-inch rounds likewise with the beetroot. Arrange in any pattern you like then sprinkle with chopped chives.
7. For the dressing combine Pomegranate seeds, lemon juice and zest with the mustard and lightly blitz or crush with pestle & mortar.