Plum Cheesecake and more

This is the last of my fruity posts for some time. Couldn't resist this what with the plum season almost coming to an end. I used the sweet n sour variety of plums for the cake. The sweet and tangy flavour was amazing especially when I bit into pieces of the fruit. I made it with whole wheat flour to give it a healthy twist. You can make it gluten free by using buckwheat flour. But this cake tends to become little dry. So add extra curds to the batter. Also, you will have to refrigerate it because buckwheat cakes have a very short shelf life.

Plum Cake

Ingredients 

Whole wheat flour – 1 cup

Jaggery powder – 1 cup

Cinnamon powder – ½ tsp

Baking powder – 1 tsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp
Eggs – 3

Curd – ½ cup (more if required to adjust the consistency of the batter)

Butter – ¼ cup
Vanilla essence – 1 tsp

Fresh Plums (Sour sweet variety) – 1 cup

Method:

Sieve the dry ingredients together

Beat the eggs well and add slowly to the dry ingredients

Add butter and curds to the mixture to make the batter

Add vanilla essence
Slice the plums

Mix little flour and jaggery powder with the plum slices

Mix plums gradually with the batter

Sprinkle powdered jaggery and cinnamon powder on top of the batter

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees

Bake for 15 to 20 mins

Test with a knife inserted into the center of the cake

Serve warm

Plum Cheesecake

Next, I tried a healthy cheesecake with low fat paneer and jaggery. And I liked what I ate.

Pic: Sanjana Kodical

Ingredients

Cheese Filling

Cottage Cheese (from toned milk) - 200 gms

Fresh plums (sweet variety) – 1 cup

Curd – ¼ cup

Condensed milk – 11/2 tbsp

Gelatin - 1 tsp

Biscuit Base

Marie biscuits - 10

Jaggery powder – 3 tbsp

Butter – 1 tbsp

Plum Compote

Plums (sweet variety) - 1 cup

Gelatin – ½ tsp

Jaggery powder – 2 tbsp

Method

Cheese Filling

Dissolve gelatin in 3 tbsp warm water

Let it stand for some time

Add half the prepared plum compote to the ingredients

Blend in a mixie

Biscuit base

Crush biscuits

Blend together crushed biscuits, jaggery powder and butter in a mixie

Plum Compote

Slice plums

Add water and jaggery powder

Cook till plums become soft

Cool

Dissolve gelatin in 1 tbsp warm water

Let it stand for some time

Add to plum mixture and blend in a mixie

Assemble the cheesecake

Spread biscuit base at the bottom of a jar

Scoop cheese filling over it

Spread remaining plum compote on top

Refrigerate for 5 to 6 hours

Serve chilled

Health Benefits of Plums

Its antibodies have protective effects against insulin resistance and help to enhance insulin sensitivity in the body

Inhibits deterioration of bone tissues and prevents osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Its high vitamin C content strengthens the immune system

Has antibodies with anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects on body cells, including the fat cells

Help in preventing obesity-related problems like high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Contains vitamin K helpful in normal clotting of the blood and bone health

Helps in normal growth of the brain

Assists in the formation of mood influencing hormones

Chlorogenic acids present in plums help in curing anxiety-related behaviors

Has high quantity of potassium which helps in regulating muscle contractions and acid-base balance of the body

Its vitamin C and antioxidants helps to maintain healthy, radiant and youthful skin

Has anti-aging nutrients which helps in reducing dark spots and wrinkles

Low glycemic index, so doesn't spike blood sugar levels. Helpful for diabetics and weight watchers

Has vitamin A and beta-carotene beneficial in maintaining healthy eye sight and preventing age-related macular degeneration