Kamil Perry
Guava cheese, also known as guava and cheese pastelitos, is a sweet, soft, fudgy, chewy Indian treat made with guava, sugar, and butter. It is a popular dessert in Goa, India, and is known as Perad. Guava cheese is also made in the Caribbean, where it is a holiday treat, and in Latin America, where it is used to make pastries. In these regions, guava cheese is made with guava, sugar, and sometimes lime juice. Guava cheese can be used in a variety of ways, including as a spread on toast with cream cheese, as a filling for pastries, or simply sliced and assembled on a platter.
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What You'll Learn
Guava cheese pastelitos
Guava and cheese pastelitos are a Cuban treat that can be enjoyed as a dessert, snack, or even a staple breakfast item. The combination of warm, sweet guava and slightly tart cream cheese, paired with flaky puff pastry, is a match made in heaven. Here is a step-by-step guide to making these delicious pastries:
Ingredients:
- Puff pastry
- Cream cheese
- Guava fruit paste (or guava jelly)
- An egg
- Flour
- Sugar (optional)
Method:
Begin by thawing the puff pastry according to the package directions, usually about 20-30 minutes or overnight in the fridge. It is best to use the puff pastry while it is still cool but not so cold that it cracks.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the puff pastry dough into a 12x18” rectangle. Using a ruler and a sharp knife, cut the dough into your desired number of squares. For smaller pastelitos, you can cut the dough into 3x3” squares, yielding 24 pieces. For larger pastelitos, you may cut the dough into 6 or 9 larger pieces.
Place a tablespoon of cream cheese filling in the center of half of the squares. Gently flatten and spread the cream cheese towards the edges using a spoon or offset spatula. Then, place a tablespoon of guava paste in the center of each cream cheese dollop.
Take the remaining pastry squares and place them on top of the filled squares to create a sandwich. Using a fork, seal the edges of the pastelitos and make a few small cuts in the top of the pastry to allow steam to escape during baking.
Before baking, brush the pastries with an egg wash (a mixture of beaten egg and a small amount of water) and sprinkle with sugar, such as demerara sugar, if desired.
Bake the pastelitos at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the pastries are deeply golden. Allow the pastelitos to cool completely before enjoying.
Tips:
Guava paste can be found in the Hispanic or Latin Foods section of most grocery stores. It is thicker than guava jelly and has a more concentrated guava flavor, making it ideal for pastelitos. However, if you cannot find guava paste, you can use guava jelly instead. Simply place the guava paste or jelly and hot water in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the paste has loosened and is spoonable, adding more water if needed.
You can also make your own guava cheese by peeling and removing the "eyes" from ripe guavas, then boiling them in water for about 5 minutes to soften.
Enjoy your homemade Guava and Cheese Pastelitos! They are perfect as a sweet treat or a tasty snack and can be paired with Cuban coffee or any espresso of your choice.
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Guava cheese cake
Guava Cheesecake
Guava cheesecake is a delightful tropical dessert that combines the rich creaminess of cheesecake with the sweet and tangy flavour of guava. The most basic ingredients of guava cheese are guava and sugar. You can make your own guava cheese by peeling and boiling ripe guavas for about 5 minutes to make them soft. You can also buy ready-made guava cheese or guava paste from Latin markets or online.
Ingredients
For the crust:
- Graham crackers or Maria cookies
- Butter
- Sugar
For the filling:
- Cream cheese (full-fat, in a brick)
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Guava puree or guava juice
For the topping:
- Guava puree or guava jelly
- Sugar
- Lime juice
- Red food colouring (optional)
Method
First, make the crust by crushing the crackers or cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor or a rolling pin. Mix the crumbs with sugar and melted butter until the mixture resembles damp sand. Press the mixture into the bottom of a springform pan and bake for 10 minutes.
Next, prepare the filling by combining the cream cheese, sugar, and eggs in a bowl. For added flavour, mix in guava puree or juice. Pour the filling into the crust and bake in the oven using the water bath method. Wrap the outside of the springform pan with aluminium foil and place it inside a larger baking pan.
Finally, create the topping by cooking guava puree with sugar and lime juice over low heat. Add a few drops of red food colouring if you want a brighter red guava layer. Let the mixture cool, then pour it over the chilled cheesecake. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the layers to set.
For a decorative touch, top the cheesecake with whipped cream, slices of fresh guava, mint leaves, or edible flowers. Enjoy the tropical flavours of your guava cheesecake!
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Guava cheese as a spread
Guava cheese, also known as Perad in Goa, is a sweet, soft, fudgy, and chewy Indian dessert made with guava, sugar, and butter. It is a popular treat in the Caribbean and Spain, often enjoyed during the holidays or as a sugary snack. While guava cheese typically comes in the form of a thick bar or paste, it can also be used as a spread on toast with some cream cheese.
To make guava cheese as a spread, start by preparing the guava fruit. Wash the guavas thoroughly and cut each one into four pieces. Boil the guava pieces in water for about 5 minutes to soften them. Alternatively, you can pressure cook them until they are soft. Once the guava is soft, remove it from the heat and let it cool down slightly.
Next, you will need to create a puree. Place the softened guava pieces in a blender or food processor and blend until a smooth puree forms. You can also use a fork or potato masher to mash the guava by hand if you don't have access to a blender. Make sure to remove any remaining seeds or "eyes" for a smoother spread.
Once you have a puree, it's time to add the sugar and butter. For every cup of guava puree, add 1/2 cup of sugar and a tablespoon of butter. You can adjust the amount of sugar according to your taste preferences. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously, until it starts to thicken. If you want a smoother and shinier spread, you can add a few drops of food coloring at this stage. Continue cooking the guava cheese spread for about 15 minutes, or until it starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Finally, transfer your guava cheese spread into a greased container and let it cool down. You can then store it at room temperature for up to a week. Enjoy your homemade guava cheese spread on toast, bagels, or even as a filling for pastries or cakes. Get creative and feel free to adjust the recipe to your liking!
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Guava cheese appetizers
Guava cheese is a popular treat in the Caribbean, made from guava fruit puree and sugar. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Here are some ideas for guava cheese appetizers:
Guava and Cheese Bites
A classic sweet-and-salty combination, this appetizer features guava paste and queso blanco (white cheese) baked inside puff pastry rounds. To make this, start by cutting 48 rounds from puff pastry using a 1 3/4" diameter round cookie cutter. Place the rounds on baking trays lined with parchment paper, leaving 1" of space between each round. Bake in a 400°F oven until light golden brown and puffed, about 8 minutes. Then, use the back of a small spoon to press down the centres of the hot pastries to make indentations. Place one piece each of queso blanco and guava paste into each indentation and bake for another 8 minutes, until the cheese and guava are soft and melted. Finally, transfer the pastries to a cooling rack, press a walnut piece into each pastry, and let them cool for about 10 minutes.
Guava and Cheese Pastelitos
These light, flaky Latin pastries are filled with guava paste and sweetened cream cheese. To make them, roll puff pastry dough into a 12x18” rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Cut 24 3x3” squares out of the pastry dough. Place 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling in the centre of 12 of the squares and gently flatten and spread it towards the edges using a spoon or offset spatula. Then, place 1 tablespoon of guava filling in the centre of each of the cream cheese dollops. Place the empty pastry squares on top of the filled squares to form twelve pastelitos. Use a fork to seal the edges and make two small cuts in the top of each pastry. Transfer the pastries to a prepared sheet pan and brush them with egg wash. Sprinkle with demerara sugar and bake for 10 minutes. Then, rotate the pan and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the pastries are deeply golden. Let the pastelitos cool completely before serving.
Guava and Cheese Skewers
A simple and refreshing appetizer, this dish involves skewering cubes of guava paste and cheddar cheese on a toothpick. Prepare all the skewers and then refrigerate them until serving time.
Guava Cake
For something more indulgent, try baking a guava cake! This recipe involves using guava cheese, but you could also experiment with adding some crumbled queso blanco or cream cheese for a more savoury touch.
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Guava cheese crackers
Ingredients
- Crackers (such as Ritz or Goya snack crackers)
- Cream cheese
- Guava jelly or paste
- Chopped toasted pecans (optional)
Method
Using this method, you can make Cuban guava and cream cheese crackers in just three simple steps. First, grab your crackers of choice. Then, add a small smear of softened cream cheese. Finally, add an even smaller dollop of guava jelly or paste on top of the cream cheese.
Tips
If you're using guava paste, you can place it in a microwave-safe bowl with hot water and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each one, until the paste has loosened and is spoonable. You can also slice the guava paste into small cubes and sprinkle them with sugar.
Variations
For a more substantial snack, try making guava and cheese pastelitos. Roll puff pastry dough into a 12x18” rectangle and cut 24 3x3” squares. Place 1 tablespoon of cream cheese filling in the center of 12 of the squares, gently flattening and spreading it towards the edges. Then, place a tablespoon of guava filling in the center of each of the cream cheese dollops. Place the empty pastry squares on top, use a fork to seal the edges, and make two small cuts in the top of each pastry. Transfer the pastries to a sheet pan, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with demerara sugar. Bake for 10 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake for another 10-15 minutes until the pastries are deeply golden.
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Frequently asked questions
Guava cheese is a sweet, soft, fudgy, and chewy Indian dessert made with guava, sugar, and butter. It is known as Perad in Goa and is usually prepared during Christmas.
Here is a simple recipe for making guava cheese at home:
- Wash and cut the guavas into four pieces.
- Pressure cook them until soft.
- Make a puree by blending the cooked guavas.
- Add butter to the guava puree and cook until it thickens.
- Add a few drops of food colouring and continue cooking for 15 minutes or until the mixture leaves the side of the pan.
- Pour the mixture into a greased container and let it set for an hour.
- Cut it into your desired shape and let it set for another 3-4 hours.
Guava cheese is commonly used in pastelitos, a Cuban dessert made with flaky puff pastry, sweet guava paste, and softened cream cheese. Guava cheese is also used in other pastries, such as guava and cheese guayaba y queso, a popular treat in Spain and the Caribbean.
Guava cheese can be purchased online or at specialty stores, such as Latin markets. It is often sold in short, wide cans or as a bar encased in plastic packaging. Some popular brands include Goya and Dypresco.
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