RECIPES USING GUAVA PASTE RECIPES

Steps:

• To prepare, wash the fruits thoroughly and cut them in half. Scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon and gather them in a bowl. 
• Pour a cup of water over the seeds and pulp. Let them soak in water for at least half-an-hour. 
• Strain the pulp and seeds, making sure that you get as much of the pulp as possible. Be careful in ensuring that the seeds are strained out. 
• Meanwhile, put the cut fruits along with the skin in a thick-bottomed pan with half a cup of water. Bring the fruit and water to a boil. 
• Turn down the heat and simmer the fruits in the water, stirring the pot frequently to prevent them from sticking to the pan.
• Add the strained pulp to the pan of softened fruit. 
• When the fruit has softened, pour it into a blender along with the pulp. Puree the fruit until it resembles a thick smoothie. 
• Measure the pulp and add them back to the pan. Add an equal amount of sugar and stir in. 
• Place this on low heat and cook. Keep stirring it with a wooden spoon to ensure that it does not stick to the bottom and scorch. it should reduce by almost half. This will take time, almost an hour. The mixture will get thicker, forming a thick layer on the spoon. 
• Take it off the heat and beat with the wooden spoon for a couple of minutes. It will thicken further as it cools. 
• The guava paste is ready. You can store it in sterilized jars. 

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.