Regular visitors know that the recipes I share here rarely venture far from the sweet stuff. However, when Annie announced World Vegan Day for the second Virtual Vegan Potluck, I immediately knew that I wanted to do something a little different and debut a savory dish. I decided on individual savory cheesecakes, topped with a pumpkin seed pesto.
I admit that at first I was concerned with how a savory cheesecake would turn out. Was I crossing a line I shouldn’t be? But those fears were quickly alleviated. The pesto paired up beautifully with the rich, creamy filling, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the results. In fact, the next time I attend a “live” potluck, I’m bringing savory cheesecakes 
Don’t miss out on the other fantastic dishes! Use the navigation buttons, at the end of this post, to move yourself up and down the buffet table… And let’s not forget a big thank you to Annie (An Unrefined Vegan), Somer (Vedged Out), and Jason (Jason and the Veganauts) for organizing this event!
Savory Cheesecake Appetizers
Crust:
1/2 cup Finely Ground Wheat Crackers (I used Wheat Thins)
1/4 cup Ground Pumpkin Seeds
2 tsp Olive Oil
Preheat oven to 325°F and line muffin tins with paper liners. I used a tin that makes medium sized muffins (cups are about 2 inches wide).
Stir together the cracker crumbs and ground pumpkin seeds. Blend in the olive oil.
Using a tablespoon to measure, scoop crust and press into the bottom of liners.
Bake for 5 minutes.
Filling:
8 ounces Dairy-Free Cream Cheese (I used Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese)
1/4 cup Pureed Soft Tofu
1 tsp Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (or All-Purpose)
Combine cream cheese, tofu, and flour in a food processor and blend until smooth. Can also use a mixer for this, but food processors work better, as they don’t aerate the filling.
Scoop filling onto crusts (I started with a tablespoon each, and then divided the remainder evenly amongst them). Spread the filling out to the edges of the crusts and smoothing the tops.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Cool completely, then remove from tins, cover loosely, and refrigerate overnight.
Pumpkin Seed Pesto:
1 cup Coarsely Chopped Basil, lightly packed
2 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds, raw
1 clove Garlic, chopped
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
1 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
1 tsp White Miso
Salt and Pepper to taste
In a food processor, pulse the basil, pumpkin seeds, and garlic until minced.
Add oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and miso. Blend until thoroughly combined.
Stir in salt and pepper.
Just before serving, remove cheesecakes from paper liners. Place a dollop of pesto on each cheesecake (I used about 1/2 – 1 teaspoon each), and spread out to look pretty.
Makes approximately 16 cheesecakes.
Mmmm.. I want this!
Oh yeah, savory cheesecake works for me! Beautiful! Thanks so much for participating!
Thanks
And thank you for putting this potluck together!
OH I love savory desserts. This is a must make recipe. Thanks so much!
Thank you
I must admit, it felt like blasphemy at first, but I think I kind of like the sweetless cheesecake myself
These look ridiculously delicious
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks CCU
Savory cheesecake?! I’d never heard of that, but I’ve been instantly converted into a fan by your post! These look amazing…
Thanks! I hadn’t heard of them either, and was hoping I came up with something new. No such luck. I peeked around the internet and they’d been done… Oh well, they were yummy anyway
Fantastic idea… And the perfect way to use up my half pack of tofu in the fridge
Thanks
liking the sound of a savory cheesecake! mmm
Thank you
mmm for someone missing the sweet tooth I say THANKYOU!! Now this is the sort of cheesecake I could get excited about
No sweet tooth! Then thank you for reading past the word “cheesecake”!
So delicate and beautiful! I love these little bites!
Thank you!
I love the idea of a savoury cheesecake! Thanks for a great recipe
xx
My pleasure, it was fun playing around with something new.
What a fantastic invention, I think these are wonderful!
Thanks
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So innovative!
I am going to try these. Thanks
I hope you enjoy them! I’d love to know how it goes.
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I have pumpkin seed pesto in my fridge right now, definitely going to work into some of this. What a great holiday appetizer!
Never would have guessed that someone would just happen to have some pumpkin seed pesto ready at hand! But it’s perfect timing, because you’re half way done!
BRILLIANT!! I’m pinning these for when I learn how to bake
Thank you
Obviously I’m no high altitude baking pro, but I don’t think these guys would give you a problem. The only thing, as I understand, is that with cheesecakes, you should bake them with a hot water bath. The crust should be fine though (there’s no leveling taking place or any real moisture to be lost).
Just making my way through the VVP & wanted to say hey
Welcome
These look so good! When I saw your blog name under appetizer I thought that was odd, because as you said, you love baking sweets, but you outdid yourself here!
Thank you!
… and did you notice how easy it would be to make them gluten-free? It dawned on me after making them, and I just about kicked myself for not thinking of it sooner!
What georgous savoury cheesecake appetizers! I especially love that pumpkin seeds pesto! Yummmm! Waw too! I also entered & loved it so much! It was my 1st time!
Thanks Sophie! I came up with the pesto recipe a few years ago (I usually use pine nuts). We love it on penne pasta with sliced sun dried tomatoes… I started to go through the blogs this morning, but only made it through to breads before running out of time (work is such a kill joy
). Can’t wait to see what you made!
These look totally fantastic! Yum!
Thank You
I’m loving the savory cheesecake idea!
Thank you! And thank you for the time you put in to make this potluck a success!
No worries Starr!
What a fantastic idea. I’ve never even thought about savoury cheesecake – now a world of possibilities has opened up in my mind!
I know what you mean. I’ve found myself contemplating new toppings or different flavours I could add into the filling. Yum!
Nothing sounds more genius than pumpkin seed pesto! YUM!
It was really tasty
Dig these savory apps based on a sweet. So pretty!
Thanks!
These are very cute! Perfect bite-sized apps for a potluck. I’ve never heard of savory cheesecake, but I sure want to try it!
Thank you
Whenever I bring appetizers to a potluck, I choose finger foods. I think it’s easier to eat and mingle that way.
Those sound so good! You are hereby invited to my next potluck.
and I shall gleefully arrive with savory cheesecakes in hand!
What a great appetizer – love it
Thanks!
What an awesome idea – Savoury Cheezecakes! They look beautiful and yummy.
Thank you
I’ve never thought to make or try a savory cheesecake – awesome! They are so cute, too!
Thanks!… Until recently, they had never occurred to me either. Glad they did though
Woah! I love cheesecake and I love pesto but I never would have thought to mix the two! So creative and they would be such a hit at a party! Nice work!
Thanks!… My boyfriend was skeptical when I first mentioned them to him, but I knew I couldn’t be the only one who thought these were a good idea!
Totally loved the recipe. Looks interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you