Raw Blueberry and Macadamia Cheesecake Recipe

Serves

8 whopping slices

Ingredients

For the crust:
300g raw macadamia nuts

A handful of pumpkin seeds

90g dates (soaked for 1 hour then pitted)

20g freshly grated coconut (desiccated is fine)

For the filling:
360g raw cashews or macadamias (soaked for at least 3 hours)

120ml lemon juice

120ml brown rice syrup

180ml coconut oil

A large pinch of sea salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

120ml water

For the sauce:
400g blueberries

45g dates (soaked for 1 hour), pitted

Method

1. To make the crust, put the macadamias, pumpkin seeds and dates into a food processor and pulse together until a rough crumble is formed. Add more dates if it’s a little dry or more nuts if it’s wet. The mixture should be able to be rolled into balls and not be overly sticky.

2. Scatter a layer of coconut on the base of a cake tin. Try lining your tins with a snug layer of clingfilm. Using your hands, press the macadamia crust on to the coconut covering the base. Press the edges down with your fingers, forming an even layer.

3. To make the filling, blitz all the ingredients in a food processor until you have a smooth cream-like texture. You may need a few goes to get it all incorporated, scraping the sides down with a spatula. Scrape out your filling mixture into the pie dish, bang it gently a few times on a work surface (to get rid of air bubbles) and smooth the filling down using a spatula.

4. Place in the freezer and freeze – for best results eat on the day of freezing, or soon after. Remove from the pie dish using a thin cake slice around the edge and gently pushing the base out. Take it easy and slowly. Pop it into the fridge and allow it to defrost – a couple of hours will do.

5. Place the blueberries and dates into your food processor and blitz well. Add a little water to thin the sauce out if needed. Pour over the cheesecake before serving.

Recipe taken from Peace & Parsnips by Lee Watson (£20, Michael Joseph)

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