Ulu Lilikoi Cheesecake
This is a special dessert made from very special ingredients that are easy to find in Hawaii. Ulu (breadfruit) and lilikoi (passion fruit) have long growing seasons so if it’s summer into early winter these gems are probably growing in your neighborhood. At other times of year find them frozen in your local store.
Crust
1 ½ cups oat flour
½ cup rolled oats
½ cup finely chopped pecans
⅓ cup cane or brown sugar
⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
Pinch of sea salt
Filling
2 cups ripe ulu, peeled and seeds removed
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup raw cashews, soaked*
Juice of 1 large or 2 small lemons
½ cup maple syrup
⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon sea salt
Lilikoi topping
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons arrowroot or cornstarch
1 ½ cups fresh lilikoi pup, with seeds (about 12 lilikoi)
⅓ cup cane sugar
Preheat the oven to 375 F.
*Soak the raw cashews in a medium-sized bowl covered with boiling water and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Drain and put aside for filling.
In a large bowl, combine oat flour, rolled oats, pecans, sugar, coconut oil and salt mixing until it begins to stick together. Spoon the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch parchment-lined pie plate. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the crust begins to brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before adding filling.
For the filling, add the ripe ulu to a blender with the coconut milk, cashews, lemon juice, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract and sea salt. Blend until silky smooth (about a minute). Pour into the prepared crust and place the pie in the freezer for 4 hours or until solid.
For the lilikoi topping, mix water and cornstarch together with a whisk in a medium sized pot and add to medium-high heat. Stir in lilikoi and sugar and continue to stir constantly until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool before pouring over the top of the frozen cheesecake. Return the cheesecake to the freezer to allow the topping to set.
Keep cheesecake frozen until ready to enjoy. Allow the cheesecake to thaw for about an hour before serving.
Serves 8-10