Colombian Sweet Chicharrones (Pastries Filled with Guava)
Most people in the US know chicharrones as the Mexican fried pork skins that have become such a popular snack over the years. In Colombia, we call fried pork belly, chicharrones, but the meat has to have the skin on and we also make small cuts all across the meat to make it look sort of like a small centipede. These cuts are called legs or fingers and it’s how we always make them. Another kind of chicharrón that we’re very fond of is the chicharrón de dulce or sweet pastry that is filled with either guava paste or guava sauce and it’s deeeeelicious! When you go to Colombia you see them at every bakery and they’re so addictive that you can’t just have one, you always end up eating 2 or 3 in one seating. And the reason we call them chicharrones is because they have the same shape as the salty ones that are fried, except these are baked in a buttery puff pastry filled with sweet guava and covered in sugar.
You will find guava paste or jam/sauce at most Latin grocery stores but I’ve also seen it being sold at regular grocery stores from time to time. Like I said, these are made with puff pastry and you can make your own (hats off to you if you do) or simply do as I do which is buy it frozen since the stuff you find at the stores is just as good as the real thing. Some bakeries will also sell it by the pound, especially if you live in Latin American countries.
I really hope you enjoy making these, they’re easy, fast and filled with delicious, gooey, guava goodness.
¡Buen Provecho!
Sweet Chicharrones (Turnovers)
Ingredients
- 1 sheet of puff pastry (10 x 15 inches or 25.4 x 38.1 cm)
- Guava paste
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp water
- All-purpose flour (To work puff pastry)
- 1 tbsp sugar (For garnishing)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
- Thaw puff pastry according to the instructions on the package.
- Cut guava paste into thin slices measuring approximately ½ inch (.63 cm) thick.
- Make an egg wash by beating the egg with the water in a small bowl.
- Unfold the puff pastry and cut right along the folds to end up with 3 large pieces. Roll out each piece with a rolling pin on a flat floured surface. We want to stretch each piece to about 3-4 inches (7.62-10.16 cm) wide.
- Place three slices of guava paste along each piece of puff pastry. Brush the top and bottom edges with the egg wash and fold it over the guava pieces. Press down with your fingertips to seal them.
- With a small knife make small cuts along the edge to form the legs of the chicharrones. Then cut them into three big pieces, one for each guava slice.
- Brush the top of each pastry with the egg wash and then sprinkle with the sugar.
- Place the pastries on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- You can sprinkle white granulated sugar or turbinado sugar on top of each turnover.
Hola Diana, queria preguntarte si la masa de hojaldre la puedo hacer así como tu ya enseñaste. Besos desde Brasil
Hola Carolina, en el blog todavía no tengo la receta para hacer hojaldre ya que siempre la compro congelada en el supermercado. Si puedes conseguirla ya hecha en Brasil, que estoy segura se debe conseguir con facilidad, entonces la puedes usar para hacer esta receta y también la receta de los pasteles de arequipe (dulce de leche).