27 comments

Pasteles and Abacaxi

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The sun is shining. The breeze is blowing gently. The smell of lilacs is in the air. It’s spring people. And time for light, lovely spring treats.

These two dishes made appearances at a party I held last month. The pasteles de guayaba were requested by my friend–they’re soft, flaky pillows filled with sweet, sticky guava paste. The abacaxi (AH-BAH-CA-SHEE) com hortelan (pineapple with mint) was served as a palette cleanser between the night’s savory and sweet dishes. It’s a crisp, refreshing, frothy drink inspired by one of my favorite country in the world–Brasil.

The pasteles are super easy to make, especially if you use premade puff pastry. The abacaxi com hortelan is one of those drinks that truly amazes. It’s such a novel and tasty combination for most folks that when they taste it, they can’t believe it contains only two ingredients. I hope you try both the pasteles and the abacaxi com hortelan… I know you’ll love them!

Also, a few things. 1. I’d like to thank Elise for the award she passed on to me. Check out her blog, her food is super creative and looks absolutely delicious! 2. Don’t forget Becky’s online bake sale on May 2nd to benefit the American Cancer Society. 3. I’m running my second 5K is as many months–a race to eradicate cancers in women. Wish me luck!!! and Happy Friday!!!

Pasteles de Guayaba and Abacaxi Com Hortelan (Printable Recipe)

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Pasteles de Guayaba

Ingredients:

2 sheets pre-made puff pastry (or make your own)

guava paste (my favorite is Goya)

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

turbinado sugar (for sprinkling)

flour (for rolling out puff pastry)

Method:
*Sprinkle flour on countertop or table. Roll out one sheet of puff pastry to about 1/4 inch thickness. Add slices of guava paste to top of puff pastry. Roll out second sheet of puff pastry to about 1/4 inch thickness. Add second sheet of puff pastry to the top of the first sheet. Cut into twelve rectangles (pasteles). Seal the edges of each pastel with a fork.

*Whisk the egg and milk. Brush on the top of the pasteles. Sprinkle the top of the pasteles with sugar. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.

*     *     *

Abacaxi com Hortelan

Ingredients:

1 pineapple–cut into chunks and chilled

1 large bunch of mint–washed

Method:

*Peel and slice pineapple. Chill pineapple. Add chilled pineapple and mint to blender. Blend. Enjoy!

Written by

Tiffany M. Griffin is the woman behind Como Water, Washington DC’s premiere veg-centric cuisine consulting company. Through cooking classes, demonstrations, catering, and consultations, Como Water gives people the opportunity to learn how to prepare veg-centric cuisine that boasts maximum flavor, with minimal effort. Tiffany is quickly becoming a go-to expert on the future of veg-centric cuisine, and is a regular contributor to Como Water, the blog, as well as to vegetarian and vegan sites across the Internet. For over a decade, this self-taught, entrepreneurial expert has developed a set of tried and true techniques for making simple, delicious, and sometimes decadent veg-centric dishes. Featured on the Steve Harvey Show and other leading media outlets, Tiffany was born and raised in Springfield, MA. She then earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Communications from Boston College and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan. She now resides in Washington DC, where she has worked in the US Senate and at a federal agency on issues around health, food, nutrition, and international food aid/development, and of course, as the owner of Como Water. Tiffany gets culinary inspiration from the food she grew up eating, and from her travels throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is dedicated to sharing her wealth of knowledge on veg-centric cuisine with others and to help others live by her mantra—love life, live long, and eat veg-centric cuisine!

Comments

  1. daksha

    Both these dishes are lovely.
    Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

    April 29, 2011
  2. La Sopa de Tomate

    Hi, look wonderfoul, I love abacaxi (piña in spanish) and my husband is crazy about guayaba, thanks for sharing this recipe

    April 29, 2011
  3. spcookiequeen

    Hi Tiffany, thanks I’m excited too. I can’t wait to see all the goodies at the bake sale, I’ve never used guava paste before, but I will be on the lookout for some.
    -Gina-

    April 29, 2011
  4. OurEyes EatFirst

    the pastries look amazing and what a wonderful combo of pineapples and mint for a smoothie! love it!

    April 29, 2011
  5. Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table

    Pineapple and mint – that’s it?! I don’t think I’ve seen something more delicious-sounding all day. 🙂

    April 29, 2011
  6. Lisa Fine

    That pineapple looks so yum.

    Good luck with your race tomorrow! My second 5k was my favorite race.

    April 29, 2011
  7. Isabelle

    I haven’t had pasteles with guava in aaaaages. Now you’ve gone and given me a wicked bad craving for them. 🙂 I sometimes like to tuck a little yellow cheese in with the guava paste, if I’m in a not-so-sweet kind of mood.
    The abacaxi with mint sounds like a perfect companion – cool and refreshing!

    April 29, 2011
  8. 5 Star Foodie

    The abacaxi sounds so refreshing with mint, and I adore pasteles!

    April 29, 2011
  9. Lauren

    Both these sound great. I LOVE Brazilian food. Congrats and good luck on the 5 k…..I wish I had the drive to do one.

    April 29, 2011
  10. Parsley Sage

    Love the flavors, love the dishes! I’m gonna have to give those lovely guava pasteles a try. There’s loads of guava here and I never have any idea what to do with it. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing and good luck with your 5K!

    April 29, 2011
  11. Liz

    I love anything pineapple…so this drink sounds amazing…and so refreshing with the mint! And even though I’ve never tried guava paste, if puff pastry is wrapped around it, I’m sure it’s divine 🙂

    April 29, 2011
  12. Stephanie

    Pineapple and mint are 2 of my favorite flavors but I never thought to combine them. Sounds like a refreshing and wonderful drink!

    April 29, 2011
  13. Charlie

    This pineapple and mint drink sounds so good and refreshing! And so simple too! Yum 🙂

    April 29, 2011
  14. Nami @ Just One Cookbook

    Hi Tiffany! The Guava pastry (um I still can’t remember the name) looks so delicious! I love guava and I love puff pastry. Where do you get the brand of guava paste? And the drink (um I can’t remember the name again haha) looks so delicious and WHAT, just two ingredients and nothing else? For sure we’ll all make. So easy! Good luck with 5K and bake sale, and congrats on awards! Happy Friday!

    April 29, 2011
  15. Sandra

    I was super intrigued by the names alone! I can see me now with a freshly baked pan of Pasteles, hoarding them! I’ve had guava once and loved it, guess it’s time for a revisit. Now for the Abacaxi, yummy indeed, how about adding a shot of rum?!?!? Good luck with the race, I know you’ll do well.

    April 29, 2011
  16. Anne

    You have such unique recipes! These look scrumptious! : )

    April 29, 2011
  17. Jill Colonna

    Tiffany, love the sound of your abacaxi: sounds so deliciously refreshing and your pastries look gorgeous. Good luck in the run: way to go, girl!!

    April 30, 2011
  18. the constant hunger

    Oh my. This looks so delicious. I’ve seen guava paste at my grocery store and have always wanted to buy it and use it…somehow. Now I have a recipe.

    April 30, 2011
  19. Beth Michelle

    These both sound amazing. Can you come over and make me those pasteles please? You have me craving them right now. I never served a palate cleanser at a dinner party, look at you 🙂 I may have to try this as one next time.

    April 30, 2011
  20. sarah

    There are rumors of sunshine here in Seattle and I think recipes are just the thing to celebrate with. So glad you shared them! Have a good weekend!!

    April 30, 2011
  21. sarah

    There are rumors of sunshine here in Seattle and I think your recipes are just the thing to celebrate with. So glad you shared them! Have a good weekend!!

    April 30, 2011
  22. sarah

    Sorry for the double, well now, triple comments…internet issues

    April 30, 2011
  23. fooddreamer

    I adore pineapple so I know I’d like the drink. I think I’d love the little turnovers too! I am not even going to try spelling either of them, though 😉

    April 30, 2011
  24. suzy eats

    sounds great!

    April 30, 2011
  25. Manu

    Some more great recipes Tiffany! I especially like the abacaxi… I’d love to try it as soon as I find a good pineapple! It sounds so refreshing! 🙂

    May 1, 2011
  26. Mina @ Angellove's Cooking

    Both these look great and soooo yummy, Tiffany!!! I am not sure which one I’d like better 😉 and I guess both would be just perfect!!!

    May 3, 2011
  27. Magic of Spice

    Oh these do both look and sound great…I can’t believe how simple that lovely sounding drink is 🙂 Good luck on your race Tiffany, and have fun 🙂

    May 4, 2011