Malai – Cornmeal Cheese Cake

• 3/4 cup instant cornmeal (finely ground)
• 1/2 cup plus a tablespoon butter
• a little more than 1/3 cup sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 cups soft cheese, preferably 5% fat (Ricotta or Farmer cheese)
• 1 3/4 cup sour cream
• Zest of one lemon and one orange
• 1 tsp vanilla paste/extract
• 2 egg yolks (keep the white for later use)
• 70 (2.5 oz) grams sifted flour
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup sugar

For a 12 X 8.5 inch baking pan. Preheat oven to a medium temperature of 330 F. Place the cornmeal, butter (cut into cubes), sugar and a pinch of salt in a heatproof bowl.  Bring the milk to a boil and pour over the bowl. Stir the ingredients and let it rest for 5 minutes. Add the soft cheese, sour cream, zest, vanilla and egg yolks and mix together. Stir in the sifted flour.  In a clean mixer bowl, whisk the egg whites and gradually add the sugar. Whisk till soft peeks are formed and fold into the cheese mixture. Pour the mixture into a greased 8.5 X 12 inch baking pan or little silicon molds. Bake for 45 minutes or a lot less if you're using muffin pan. Serve warm (not hot !) with sour cream and Sour Cherry or strawberry Jam.