An outrageously decadent Japanese parsley cheesecake

Prep 40 min

Total 1 hour 30 min

Plus Cooling 2 hours

Serves 12

Chef Ricardo shares a cheesecake recipe so good you'll have to share the last slice.

1/2 cup

unbleached All-purpose flour

3 tbsp

Cornstarch

1 pinch

Salt

1/2 cup

Milk

1 cup

finely chopped Flat-leaf parsley

1 block

Cream cheese

1/4 cup

Butter

1 tbsp

Lemon juice

separated Eggs

3/4 cup

Sugar

With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Line an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper, letting it hang over all four sides.
In a bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch and salt. Set aside.
In a blender, purée the milk and parsley until smooth.
In the top of a double boiler, melt the cream cheese, butter and lemon juice, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Remove from the heat. Add the egg yolks and parsley mixture. Whisk in the flour mixture.
In another bowl, whisk the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the sugar gradually, whisking constantly, until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold the egg whites into the batter using a whisk. Transfer to the baking pan.
Prepare a double boiler for the oven (see video). Place the cake pan in a larger baking pan and add hot water to the larger pan to about one-third the way up the sides.
Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove the cake from the double boiler. Let cool for 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 6 hours.
Serve the cake alone or garnished with lightly sweetened strawberries tossed with lemon juice.