Saffron Cheesecake … inspired baking!

Saffron Cheesecake …the best thing ever! Smooth, beautifully flavoured, most addictive, so satisfying. ​I know I’ve said this before, but honestly, this is my ALL TIME favourite cheesecake, a recipe I’m sharing here today. Flavouring this beautiful recipe is a very special product, the best quality saffron I’ve ever used, and it’s from Tahmina International. ​There is a heart-warming story behind the brand, and how it contributes back to society; a brave story that helps communities in conflict zones.One whiff of Tahmina transports you into another world, and I’m not kidding. I use a lot of saffron, always ensuring its good quality. After all you can’t go wrong with the most expensive spice in the world!I still remember when my son came back home from school years ago telling me they had learnt about the most expensive spice in the world! He was most impressed by his mothers in-depth knowledge when she said must be saffron! And his eyes opened as big as saucers when I showed him some from my pantry. He thought I was the richest mama in the whole world! Little did he know that in almost every kitchen here in India, there will always be saffron!Saffron is an inherent part of our existence, deeply rooted in our culture, both culinary and religious. While most auspicious ceremonies are embarked upon by a ’tilak’ that includes saffron, a wide variety of Indian desserts are delicately flavoured by this beautiful spice. You’ll also find savoury dishes that celebrate the fragrance – kormas, pulaos, kebabs and so much more. A little goes a long way, which is why using the best quality you can find makes so much sense.

We have always used saffron at home. My old aunt still makes her caramel custard with saffron as the central flavour and swears by it. I use saffron a lot too, and it’s one of my all-time favourite spices. One of my favourite uses has been my own special version of the Indian rice pudding or Zafrani Phirini, a recipe that I fast tracked to make super simple. Of course, now I have a new favourite, this Saffron Cheesecake flavoured most luxuriously and deeply by Tahmina’s saffron. That brings me to Tahmina. Derived from the Persian word ‘tahm‘, meaning strong and brave, Tahmina is an international brand with a vision to export transformational products from different conflict areas of the world. Their belief that economic development is one of the sustainable agents of change to war-torn societies resonates with me deeply, knowing that positivity like this can bring about much-needed change in a world torn apart by strife. It was heartening to hear the story, first hand for me as I was fortunate enough to meet the founder of Tahmina International in Gurgaon recently. She spoke so passionately about their maiden project, Afghan Saffron and Saffron-infused Teas, that I was moved. To see a brand so young and so brave, with such a strong vision to make the world a better place fills me with pride. To be able to get one of Afghanistan’s best luxury products saffron to international markets by connecting local farmers, employing Afghan women, and helping to develop an industry that can offer meaningful alternatives to an illicit drug economy is so meaningful. Tahmina breathes and lives this dream. They work hand in hand with communities, speak the local language fluently and are extremely proud of the quality of saffron made available to the international market.And proud Tahmina should be. I take in strong whiffs of the saffron as I pry open the beautifully designed box. When I first saw the branding and packaging, I was smitten. It was love at first sight. The colours, the design, the branding, the concept. For me, everything works like magic! And believe me, try a few strands of Tahmina’s saffron, and you will know what I mean. As the world’s most expensive spice sees a growing demand internationally, the popularity soaring, it’s so easy to fall prey to poor quality saffron.While Afghan saffron struggles to demand a good price in the international market, currently priced almost a seventh the price of Spanish saffron, Afghan saffron has been named the best in the world by the International Taste & Quality Institute for three years running. Given the relatively newer and largely underdeveloped saffron industry in Afghanistan, proper development and branding of this quality product should fetch it recognition and the price that is rightly due.  Tahmina is working towards shaping this future, raising hopes to rewrite their story!And if the saffron is as good as this, it can only be a win win situation for all. The flavours became deeper chilling in the fridge overnight, the cheesecake beautifully fragrant. It tasted like heaven! Light, silky, smooth, sensuous, all the flavours tying in beautifully. It’s a luxurious yet simple cheesecake to bake. I often bake large cheesecakes, but this time chose to bake little and medium-sized ones.The fun part was dressing them up with the saffron mascarpone frosting, then adding the garnish. I love how pretty all the colours look, like a dessert worth celebrating. The Saffron Cheesecake can be made a day or two ahead, frosted a day ahead too. It holds really well, so in many ways is the perfect dessert for a special celebration.And one last word before I leave you, do try their Saffron Black Tea Blend too. I’m not a huge tea drinker but I love iced tea in summer. I made a cold brew with the tea bags {look at that colour!}, sweetened it with a little honey, and added pomegranate pearls to the glass. So refreshing, and bursting with saffron flavour. So potent! I’ve got another saffron dessert brewing in my head as I write. Another time perhaps…

Print

Saffron Cheesecake

Saffron Cheesecake …the best thing ever! Smooth, beautifully flavoured, most addictive, so satisfying. ​I know I’ve said this before, but honestly, this is my ALL TIME favourite cheesecake. Flavouring this beautiful recipe is a very special product, the best quality saffron I’ve ever used from Tahmina International.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

Biscuit base

• 200 g digestive biscuits
• 25 g pistachios finely chopped
• 50 g unsalted butter
• 1 pinch saffron strands generous

Saffron Cheesecake Filling

• 150 g mascarpone
• 175 g cream cheese
• 300 g sweetened condensed milk
• 200 g single cream
• 25 g cornflour
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 1 tsp saffron strands

Mascarpone Saffron Cream

• 100 g mascarpone
• 50 g whipping cream
• 15 g {1 tbsp} icing sugar
• 1 pinch saffron strands generous

To garnish

• saffron strands
• Pistachio slivers
• Organic rose petals

Instructions

Biscuit base

• Preheat the oven at 180C. Prepare one loose bottomed 8-9" round tin, or smaller tins as desired. Lightly grease the inside, and wrap the outside with heavy duty foil. Place on baking tray.
• Place all ingredients except pistachios in jar of processor. Process until fine breadcrumb like mix. Stir in chopped pistachios.
• Turn into prepared tin, press gently. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on rack, then top with saffron cheesecake filling.

Saffron Cheesecake Filling

• Place all ingredients other than saffron in jar of processor. Blend for 30 seconds to a minute until well mixed together. {I used the Thermomix, Speed 7, 20 seconds}
• Add the saffron strands and mix in on low speed {Thermomix, Reverse speed 4, 5 seconds}
• Pour over biscuit base. Pour about 1 cup of water into baking tray. Bake 170c for an hour/until slightly firm to touch. Cool completely, then cover and chill overnight.

Mascarpone Saffron Cream

• Place whipping cream and sugar in a large bowl and whip to medium stiff peaks. Add mascarpone and whip on slow speed until blended, then add saffron strands and mix in on lowest speed for 20 seconds.
• Transfer to piping bag fitted with star nozzle. Pipe over chilled cheesecake. Garnish with pistachio slivers, saffron strands and fresh, organic rose petals.