Coconut Ice Cream Cheesecake With Lime and Avocado

This is dense and rich and absolutely delicious. The lime, nuts and avocado blend so well with the sweetness of the agave, the dates and the coconut. Top it off with fresh strawberries – real food love and a perfect dessert, afternoon treat or even birthday cake.

COCONUT ICE CREAM CHEESECAKE WITH LIME AND AVOCADO

INGREDIENTS

The First Layer:

• ¾ cup dates (stone-free), soaked for a few minutes in hot water to soften (then remove soaking water carefully)
• 1 cup mixed nuts (I recommend hazelnuts, almonds and brazil nuts)
• 2 tbsp non-dairy milk

The Creamy Second Layer:

• 1 cup cashew nuts, soaked in water for minimum two hours, or do a quick soak in hot water for 10/20 minutes (as long as possible).
• I tbsp. chia seeds, soaked in 3 tbsp almond or soy milk (it will gel-ify)
• 1 cup coconut oil (to be melted)
• ½ cup agave
• Juice and pulp from one lime
• 1 perfectly ripe medium sized avocado
• ½ cup shredded coconut, more to garnish.
• 2 – 3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced thinly, to garnish

PREPARATION

1. First of all, make sure to soak the cashew nuts and the chia seeds (for the second layer) and the dates (for the first layer).
2. Then make the first layer; place the mixed nuts in the blender and run until you have grainy nut flour. Add the soaked dates (not the soaking water), and soy/almond milk and blend for another few minutes. You might need to stop the blender once or twice and scrape down the sides. When you have a fully blended sticky dough, remove it and press it out in a spring form pan (or whatever cake tin you have at home). Place in the freezer while making the second layer.
3. Melt the coconut oil on low heat in a pot and remove the soaking water from the cashew nuts. Place both in a blender together with the chia gel, the agave, the lime juice/pulp and the avocado. Blend on full speed for a few minutes until you have a completely smooth cream. Then remove from the blender, and add the shredded coconut. Give it a good stir before pouring it into the cake tin to cover the first layer. Spread it out as evenly as possible before putting it back in the freezer for at least a couple of hours.
4. Before serving, garnish with lots of fresh strawberry slices and a little shredded coconut.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/coconut-ice-cream-cheesecake-with-lime-and-avocado/