Pashka

by Leah Halmagyi

Ingredients

  • 8 egg yolks
  • 125g caster sugar
  • finely grated zest of 2 lemons
  • finely-grated zest of 2 oranges
  • 300ml cream
  • 750g full-cream ricotta
  • 2 tsp natural vanilla extract
  • 50g gold raisins, chopped
  • 50g dried cranberries, chopped
  • 50g dried peaches, chopped
  • 50g dried apples, chopped
  • 125g hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
  • 1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • edible flowers and melted chocolate, to garnish

Instructions

1 Combine the yolks, sugar and zests in a bowl until very light. Pour the cream into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour over the yolk mixture, whisk until smooth, then return to the heat and cook gently until just thickened. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl set over an ice bath, then allow to cool completely.
2 Add the ricotta and vanilla, then whisk until smooth. Fold in the dried fruits and hazelnuts. Line a 1.25L conical sieve with cheesecloth then spoon in the ricotta mixture. Set over a bowl, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
3 Invert over a plate and remove the sieve and cheesecloth. Garnish the base with sliced almonds, then decorate the top with flowers. Pipe the chocolate into an ‘X’ and a ‘B’. Once set, place on the side.