Guava And Cheese Pastry Food

PASTELITOS (GUAVA AND CREAM CHEESE PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Prepare an egg wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with a pinch of salt and set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll one sheet of puff pastry into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle roughly the size of a standard sheet of paper. (Keep the other puff pastry sheet in the refrigerator.) Dust off any excess flour and lay the rolled pastry sheet on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Dip a pastry brush into the egg wash, and paint a line in lengthwise along the center of the pastry sheet, followed by three crosswise lines, evenly spaced, forming a grid of 8 rectangles, each approximately 3 inches wide and 4 inches long. Brush edges with egg wash. Lay a slice of guava paste in the center of each rectangle (or dot with dollops of jam or preserves, if using). Spread some of the cream cheese, if using, on top of the guava paste (about 1 1/2 tablespoons cream cheese per pastry).
• Remove the second sheet of puff pastry from the refrigerator, and roll it out into an 8-by-11-inch rectangle, dusting with flour as needed to prevent sticking. Lay the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the first. Using the side of your palm, press around and between the mounds of filling, pressing out any excess air, and to glue the top pastry to the bottom, creating 8 even, rectangular pockets. Paint the top sheet of puff pastry with egg wash. Sprinkle the surface with sugar.
• Using a knife or bench scraper, cut out and separate the 8 pastelitos following the original grid in between the indentations in the dough. Trim the perimeter to neaten the rectangles. The dough should still be cool to the touch; if it is warm, return the pastelitos to the refrigerator on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to firm up before baking.
• Bake pastelitos until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GUAVA CREAM CHEESE CUBAN PASTRIES (PASTELITOS DE GUAYABA Y QUESO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Warm guava paste in a microwave safe bowl for 20 seconds. Stir until it's a spreadable consistency.
• In another bowl, stir softened cream cheese until smooth and spreadable.
• Beat the egg and water together in a separate bowl and set aside.
• Roll out one sheet of the puff pastry and cut into 4 equal squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
• In the middle of each square of puff pastry, spread about 1/8th of the cream cheese and guava paste, leaving a border around the edge of the puff pastry. Repeat with remaining squares and remaining sheet of puff pastry.
• Brush egg wash around the edge of each square. Fold each square in half, pressing the edges with a fork to seal the cream cheese and guava paste inside the pastry.
• Use a sharp knife to cut a slash in the top of each pastry so steam can escape while the pastries bake, then brush the top of each pastry with the remaining egg wash. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm.

PASTELITOS - GUAVA AND CHEESE PASTRIES

Steps:

• Step 1 Heat oven to 375°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Cut guava paste into thin slices (about ¼"-½" thick). Cut slices into 2"-long rectangles (you should have 6 rectangles); set aside. In medium mixing bowl, using spatula, stir together cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until well combined; set aside. Step 2 Transfer frozen puff pastry dough to cutting board, keeping rounds of dough stacked. Using sharp knife, cut off rounded edges to form square shape. Peel off plastic wrap from each layer. Using rolling pin, roll dough squares, one at a time, until ½" larger all around. Step 3 Place square of dough on work surface. Add 1 piece guava paste and heaping tablespoon of cream cheese mixture. Using pastry brush, brush edges of dough with egg wash. Place second dough square on top of guava and cheese; gently press edges to seal. Brush top of dough with egg wash. Using small sharp knife, make 3 shallow cuts (about 1" long) on top of dough. Sprinkle dough with 1 tsp. sugar, if desired. Transfer pastry to prepared pan. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Transfer pan to refrigerator until dough is chilled. Step 4 Bake pastries until golden brown and puffed, 22-25 minutes. Transfer pastries to cooling rack; cool to room temperature; dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

GUAVA CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Place the cream cheese and panela or farmer cheese in a bowl and mix well with a spoon.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place l of the puff pastry circles on the baking sheet. Brush a 1-inch rim around the outside edge with some of the beaten egg. Pat the cheese mixture into an 8-inch circle in the center and spread the guava paste or jam evenly over the top.
• Fold the remaining piece of puff pastry in half and place over the first piece. Unfold the pastry to enclose the filling, being careful not to trap air beneath. Gently press the top and bottom edges together and refrigerate about 25 minutes, or until the dough is thoroughly chilled.
• Remove from the refrigerator. Working about 1 1/2-inches from the outside, firmly press the edges of pastry together with the tines of a fork to seal. Then trim the excess dough, leaving an even 1-inch border of crust surrounding the filling. With a sharp paring knife, cut out and discard a 1/4-inch circle of dough from the center, and press out any trapped air. Then, making shallow cuts, trace 6 to 8 circular lines in a spiral pattern from the center hole to the inside edge of the sealed crust (if the dough gets too warm to work with, just return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so to harden).
• Mix the heavy cream, with the remaining beaten egg and brush over the top of the tart: Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
• To bake, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Transfer the pan from refrigerator to the oven and bake 15 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown on top. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake until the jelly is bubbling and the bottom crust, when lifted with a spatula, is browned, 30 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool on a rack to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

CHEESE AND GUAVA POCKETS

Steps:

• Working with 1 empanada wrapper at a time, cut the dough down the center to make 20 half circles.
• Onto 1 half of each half circle, leaving a narrow boarder around the rim to pinch, add 1/2-ounce each guava paste and queso blanco.
• Using a finger dipped in water, trace the edges of the half circles to moisten the dough. Fold uncovered half of the dough over the filling, making sure to press out all the air as you work. The final product should resemble a triangle with 1curved side. Using the tines of a fork, dipped in flour, if needed, crimp the sides to seal. Repeat with remaining 19 pastries.
• Heat 1-inch of oil in a heavy-bottom skillet to 360 degrees F.
• Fry the pastries, in batches, until golden, about 2 minutes. Flip and fry 2 minutes more. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain, then transfer to a serving platter. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with honey to serve.

GUAVA CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Place the cream cheese and panela or farmer cheese in a bowl and mix well with a spoon.
• Line in a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place 1 of the puff pastry circles on the baking sheet.
• Brush a 1" rim around the outside edge with some of the beaten egg.
• Pat the cheese mixture into an 8" circle in the center and spread the guava paste or jam evenly over the top.
• Fold the remaining piece of puff pastry in half and place over the first piece.
• Unfold the pastry to enclose the filling, being careful not to trap air beneath.
• Gently press the top and bottom edges together and refrigerate about 25 minutes, or until dough is thoroughly chilled.
• Remove from refrigerator.
• Working about 1-1/2" from the outside, firmly press the edges of pastry together with the tines of a fork to seal.
• Then trim the excess dough, leaving an even 1" border of crust surrounding the filling.
• With a sharp pairing knife, cut out and discard a 1/4" circle of dough from the center and press out any trapped air.
• Then, making shallow cuts, trace 6-8 circular lines in a spiral pattern from the center hole to the inside edge of the sealed crust (if the dough gets too warm to work with, just return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so to harden).
• Mix the heavy cream, with the remaining beaten egg and brush over the top of the tart: cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
• To bake, preheat the oven to 450ºF.
• Transfer the pan from the refrigerator to the oven and bake 15 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown on top.
• Reduce the oven temp to 350ºF.
• Bake until the jelly is bubbling and the bottom crust, when lifted with a spatulas, is browned, 30-40 minutes.
• Set aside to cool on a rack up to 15 minutes.
• Serve warm with whipped topping, if you choose.

PASTELES DE GUAYABA (GUAVA AND CREAM CHEESE PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Blend the cream cheese, butter and flour until well mixed; Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough into a 1/4-inch thick square; Cut the rolled dough into 16 to 20 squares.
• A little off center of each square, place 1 tablespoon guava paste.
• Fold the dough over the guava paste, forming a triangle; Press the edges shut.
• Place the pasteles onto a cookie sheet and sprinkle them with a thin layer of sugar.
• Bake until the pasteles are evenly browned, about 25 minutes.

GUAVA AND CREAM CHEESE PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle.
• Beat egg with a fork, then put 1 1/2 tablespoons egg in a small bowl with water (1/2 tablespoon) and lightly beat to make egg wash.
• Put remaining beaten egg in a food processor with cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and purée until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Purée guava preserves with lemon juice in cleaned food processor until smooth.
• Put a baking sheet in oven to preheat 5 minutes while you prepare pastry.
• Roll out pastry on a floured work surface with a floured rolling pin into an 11- by 9 1/2-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle in half crosswise.
• Transfer 1 piece of pastry to a sheet of foil. Spread cream cheese mixture in a 3 1/2-inch-wide strip down middle of pastry, leaving 1-inch borders on all sides. Dollop 2 rows of preserves lengthwise on top of cheese mixture, about 1 inch apart.
• Fold remaining piece of pastry in half lengthwise and put folded edge nearest you. Leaving a 1-inch border on sides and top of pastry, cut 1 1/2-inch-long slits every 1/2 inch through folded edge to top border.
• Brush some of egg wash around filling. Unfold cut pastry and lay over filling. Lightly press edges to seal and brush top of dough with some egg wash. Bake on foil on hot baking sheet until puffed and golden-brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer pastry to a rack to cool completely.