Frederic Melton
The first cheesecake was made over 4,000 years ago in Ancient Greece, specifically on the island of Samos. This rudimentary cheesecake was made with patties of fresh cheese that were then pounded smooth with flour and honey. The creation was then baked on an earthenware griddle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ancient Greece |
| Date | 5th century BC |
| Location | Island of Samos |
| Name | Plakous |
| Ingredients | Fresh cheese, flour, honey |
| Preparation | Cheese was pounded smooth and mixed with flour and honey |
| Cooking Method | Baked on an earthenware griddle |
| Appearance | More like a loaf than a cake |
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What You'll Learn
- The original cheesecake was made in Ancient Greece, specifically on the island of Samos
- It was made with fresh cheese, pounded smooth with flour and honey
- It was cooked on an earthenware griddle
- The Romans later modified the recipe by adding eggs and baking it between hot bricks
- There are four basic types of cheesecake: curd, ricotta, quark, and cream cheese
The original cheesecake was made in Ancient Greece, specifically on the island of Samos
Cheesecake was considered a great source of energy and was served to athletes during the first Olympic Games in 776 BC. It was also popular as a wedding dessert. Years later, when the Romans conquered all the Greek territories, they modified the ancient Greek recipe by including eggs and baking the cake between hot bricks.
During the late medieval ages in Europe, cheesecake transformed to include a pastry base in a tart form. Today, there are four basic types of cheesecake, the variety and even brand of cheese affecting the texture and taste: curd, such as farmer, pot, or cottage cheese; ricotta (Italian cheesecake); quark (German cheesecake); and cream cheese (New York cheesecake). In addition, there is an unbaked chiffon-like version (French cheesecake).
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It was made with fresh cheese, pounded smooth with flour and honey
The first cheesecake was made in Ancient Greece, specifically on the island of Samos, off the coast of modern-day Turkey. This was over 4,000 years ago, in the fifth century BC. The cake was named 'plakous', meaning 'flat mass', and was a popular food to feed athletes who participated in the Olympic Games in 776 BC.
The original cheesecake was made with fresh cheese, pounded smooth with flour and honey. The cheese was worked until it was smooth and creamy, then mixed in a brass pan with honey and wheat flour, heated until it became a homogenous mass, and finally allowed to cool before serving. The result looked more like a loaf than a cake.
The ancient Greeks cooked the cheesecake on an earthenware griddle, and it was considered a great source of energy. The cake was also popular as a wedding dessert.
Over time, the cheesecake recipe has evolved. When the Romans conquered Greek territories, they modified the ancient Greek recipe by including eggs and baking the cake between hot bricks. During the late medieval ages in Europe, cheesecake transformed to include a pastry base in a tart form.
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It was cooked on an earthenware griddle
The original cheesecake, or plakous, was made in Ancient Greece in the fifth century BC. It was cooked on an earthenware griddle and was a popular food to feed athletes who participated in the Olympic Games in 776 BC. It was made by working the cheese until it was smooth and creamy, mixing it in a brass pan with honey and wheat flour, heating it until it became a homogenous mass, and finally allowing it to cool and serving it. It looked more like a loaf than a cake.
The earthenware griddle was heated and the cheesecake mixture was poured onto it. The griddle would have been made of clay and heated over a fire. The cheesecake would have been cooked until it was set and then allowed to cool before serving.
The ancient Greeks created the first rudimentary cheesecake, which was then modified by the Romans when they conquered Greek territories. The Romans included eggs in their recipe and baked the cake between hot bricks.
The earthenware griddle would have been a simple and effective way to cook the cheesecake, ensuring an even cook and a crispy base.
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The Romans later modified the recipe by adding eggs and baking it between hot bricks
The first cheesecake we know of was made in Ancient Greece, specifically on the island of Samos, off the coast of modern-day Turkey. This early version of the dessert was called "plakous", meaning "flat mass", and was made by working fresh cheese until it was smooth and creamy, then mixing it with honey and wheat flour. The mixture was then heated until it became a homogenous mass and was served after cooling.
Years later, when the Romans conquered the Greek territories, they modified the ancient Greek recipe by including eggs and baking the cake between hot bricks. This new version of the cheesecake was likely baked to give it a more solid structure and to make it easier to transport and store. The addition of eggs also made the cheesecake more nutritious and likely improved its taste and texture.
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There are four basic types of cheesecake: curd, ricotta, quark, and cream cheese
The first cheesecake is thought to have been made in Ancient Greece, specifically on the island of Samos, in the fifth century BC. This early version of the dessert was made with patties of fresh cheese that were pounded smooth with flour and honey, then baked on an earthenware griddle. This rudimentary cheesecake was called "plakous", meaning "flat mass", and was a popular food to feed athletes who participated in the Olympic Games in 776 BC.
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Frequently asked questions
The original cheesecake was made with soft fresh cheese (cottage cheese, cream cheese, quark or ricotta), eggs, and sugar. It may have had a crust or base made from crushed cookies (or digestive biscuits), graham crackers, pastry, or sometimes sponge cake.
The base of the original cheesecake was made from crushed cookies or digestive biscuits.
The original cheesecake used soft fresh cheese, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, quark or ricotta.
The English name cheesecake has only been used since the 15th century, and the cheesecake did not evolve into its modern form until around the 18th century. In the early 19th century, cheesecake recipes included cheese curd and fresh butter, and were thickened with blanched almonds, eggs and cream. They may also have included currants, brandy, raisin wine, nutmeg and orange flower water.
