Ukrainian - Holiday Syrnyk

[Olga Drozd]

Ukrainian - Holiday Syrnyk

Cheesecakes are traditional Ukrainian holiday fare.  Unsweetened ones are served as the main course; more elaborate ones as dessert.  This cheesecake is baked with two layers on top of a sweetened pastry base. NOTE:  The yeast should be softened and the layers partially prepared before the pastry is baked.

PASTRY BASE:

1 cup all purpose flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch salt
3 1/2 Tablespoons sweet butter
3 egg yolks - lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

FIRST LAYER:

2 egg whites
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons fine breadcrumbs
1 cup ground walnuts

SECOND LAYER:

1 teaspoon dry granular yeast
1 Tablespoon lukewarm water

3 cups dry cottage cheese - sieved
7 Tablespoons sweet butter (unsalted) - room temperature
6 egg yolks - beaten until light
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

4 egg whites
1 teaspoon lemon juice

FOR THE PASTRY:  Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into bowl.  Cut in butter until it resembles coarse meal.  Beat egg yolks slightly with fork, then stir into flour mixture, together with the vanilla.  Put mixture into bottom of a greased 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan.  Bake in a preheated oven 350º F. for 10 minutes.  It will be not quite done.  Add layers as follows:

Preheat oven 325º F.

FIRST LAYER: Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.  Gradually beat in sugar and continue beating until it stands in peaks.  Fold in breadcrumbs and walnuts. Spread over partially baked crust.

SECOND LAYER: Sprinkle yeast over lukewarm water, leave to stand ten minutes.  Sieve cottage cheese, then blend with butter until very smooth. 

In a bowl of an electric mixer or by hand - beat egg yolks until light, add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy. Stir in vanilla and dissolved yeast.  Add this egg sugar yeast mixture to the cheese-butter mixture, stir until blended, fold in breadcrumbs.

In a clean bowl of an electric mixer:  Beat 4 egg whites with lemon juice until stiff but not dry. Fold into cheese mixture. Spread this layer over walnut layer. Bake at 325º F. for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Turn off heat, leave to cool in oven for an hour, with door open.