Guava Cheese Pastels (Pastel de Guayaba)
Crispy fried turnovers filled with sweet guava and creamy Dominican cheese, perfect for breakfast or snacks. This puerto rican-inspired quick meals ready in about 30 minutes pairs guava paste, Dominican cheese (queso de guayaba), flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup guava paste
- 1/2 cup Dominican cheese (queso de guayaba)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, mix 1 cup guava paste with 1/2 cup crumbled Dominican cheese until well combined.
- Step 2: On a floured surface, roll out 1/2 cup flour into a thin sheet. Cut into 4-inch rounds.
- Step 3: Place 2 tbsp guava-cheese mixture in the center of each round. Fold into a half-moon shape, pressing edges to seal.
- Step 4: Dip pastels in beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly in bread crumbs.
- Step 5: Heat 1/3 cup vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry pastels for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Guava Cheese Pastels (Pastel de Guayaba) take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (20 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Guava Cheese Pastels (Pastel de Guayaba)?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep guava paste from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Guava Cheese Pastels (Pastel de Guayaba)?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Guava Cheese Pastels (Pastel de Guayaba) for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Guava Cheese Pastels (Pastel de Guayaba)?
Puerto Rican quick meals like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★★☆
Tasty recipe. I'd add a bit more seasoning next time.
