A fragrant, jewel-toned sweet treat made from ripe guava, fresh lime juice, and butter, yielding delicate tang and creamy texture.
# What you 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)
# Steps to follow:
01 - Grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan with butter and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on all sides for easy removal.
02 - Place chopped guava and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes until fruit is completely soft.
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 fibers.
04 - Measure out 2 cups of guava puree and return it to the heavy-bottomed saucepan.
05 - Add granulated sugar and fresh lime juice to the guava puree in the saucepan.
06 - Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula for 30 to 40 minutes until the mixture thickens noticeably and begins to pull away from the sides of the pan. The consistency should be very thick and hold its shape.
07 - When the mixture reaches the desired thickness, add butter and continue stirring until the mixture becomes glossy and fully incorporated.
08 - Immediately pour the hot mixture into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top evenly with a spatula.
09 - Allow the guava cheese to cool at room temperature for 1 hour until fully set.
10 - Lift the set mixture out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into 1-inch squares or diamond shapes using a greased knife. If desired, roll the pieces in superfine sugar to coat.
