Guava Cheese Tropical Confection (Printable)

Tropical Goan confection made from ripe guava, fresh lime, and butter into jewel-toned squares with delicate tang.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit Base

01 - 4 cups ripe guava (pink or white), peeled, deseeded, and chopped
02 - 1/2 cup water

→ Sugar & Flavor

03 - 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

→ Enrichment

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

→ Coating

06 - 1/4 cup superfine sugar for dusting (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan with butter and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on sides for easy removal.
02 - Place chopped guava and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until fruit softens completely, approximately 15 minutes.
03 - Transfer cooked guava to a blender or food processor and puree until completely smooth. Pass the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove any remaining seeds or fiber particles.
04 - Measure 2 cups of strained guava puree and return to the heavy-bottomed saucepan.
05 - Add granulated sugar and fresh lime juice to the guava puree. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula.
06 - Continue cooking for 30-40 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens noticeably and begins pulling away from the sides of the pan. The consistency should form a cohesive mass that holds its shape.
07 - When the mixture reaches proper thickness, add butter and continue stirring until the mixture becomes glossy and very thick. Immediately transfer to the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
08 - Allow the mixture to cool at room temperature for 1 hour until completely set.
09 - Lift the set paste out of the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into 1-inch squares or diamonds using a sharp knife greased with butter to prevent sticking.
10 - If desired, roll individual pieces in superfine sugar until lightly coated.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms humble guavas into something that tastes like jeweled candies without requiring any special equipment you don't already have.
  • The lime juice cuts through the sweetness in a way that makes you want just one more piece, then another.
  • Homemade versions beat anything store-bought because you control the texture and can make it exactly how you like it.
02 -
  • The mixture will seem like it's never going to thicken, then suddenly it does—don't abandon it halfway through or you'll end up with something too soft to cut.
  • Greasing your knife before cutting each piece prevents the sticky mixture from dragging and tearing; a quick dip in oil or butter makes all the difference in presentation.
03 -
  • If your kitchen is humid, add an extra 5 minutes to the cooking time since moisture in the air affects how quickly the mixture sets.
  • Save any puree you don't use for the candy—it freezes beautifully and becomes the starting point for quick jams or can be swirled into yogurt.
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