Tomato and Basil Cheesecake

Posted on | by Free-From Heaven

Served with a crisp green salad, this baked, tomato and basil cheesecake makes a very tasty, summers evening dish. 

Tomato and Basil Cheesecake

Tomato and Basil Cheesecake

Serves 12 | Preparation time 25 mins plus chilling and setting | Baking time 1 hour

GF SF DF EF V MF

Ingredients

For the base:

  • 300g oatcakes, crushed
  • 250g soya margarine, melted

For the filling:

  • 765g vegan cream cheese/free from creamy style spread
  • 125ml soya cream
  • Egg replacer, to the equivalent of 5 eggs
  • 10 large sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • 15-20 basil leaves, torn
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Toppings:

  • Chopped cherry tomatoes
  • Sprig of fresh basil
Method
  1. The day before you want to eat the quiche, preheat the oven to 150˚C/130˚C fan /gas mark 2 then grease the base and sides of a 23cm round springform baking tin. For the base, mix the crushed oatcakes and melted soya margarine together in a large bowl. Press the mixture into the base and around the edges of the prepared tin, and chill for 20 mins.
  2. For the filling, beat the cream cheese and soya cream together in a large bowl, add the egg replacer and mix until well combined. Fold in the sun-dried tomatoes, basil leaves, seasoning and garlic and onion powders. Spoon the mixture on top of the chilled base and level the top.
  3. Bake in the middle of the oven for 1 hour, turning half way through baking for an even bake. The cheesecake will be quite solid and may crack slightly during baking process but it will not crack completely.
  4. Allow to cool completely in the tin then cover and place in the fridge to set overnight. To serve, run a sharp knife around the outside of the cheesecake before releasing it from the tin, topping with fresh tomatoes and cutting into slices.

TIP:

  • The cheesecake is best served at room temperature and can be stored for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Vegan cream cheese and egg replacer is available from good health food stores. Free from creamy original style spread style spread is available in selected Tesco stores.