Recipe: Pastelitos
Indulge in the Irresistible Sweetness of Pastelitos
Ah, Pastelitos! The mere mention of this delectable dish triggers a rush of memories from my childhood. Growing up in LA, I was fortunate enough to have easy access to a variety of foods and flavors, one being mouthwatering Pastelitos from the local Cuban bakery. It is something that I love to eat, love to make, and often do make for guests at the Bed and Breakfast where I work. This recipeis not specifically a Cuban version, this is just something that has come together from all the Pastelitos I’ve had from Cuban, Puerto Rican, and more.
Pastelitos (serves 6)
ingredients:
1 package puff pastry sheets, defrosted
jar of tart jam (I typically use Guava but these in the picture have fig jam)
8 oz cream cheese
egg wash (beaten egg with a dash of water)
directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll one sheet of puff pastry and, using the back of a butter knife, gently outline six even squares on the sheet.
In the middle of each square, place one ounce of cream cheese and three to five tablespoons of jam. Unroll the other sheet of puff pastry and lay it on top of the previous sheet with the cream cheese and jam. Using your fingers, seal around the filling, pressing the two sheets together. Use a knife to cut out the previously outlined six squares.
Place each square on a prepared baking sheet (lined with a baking pad or greased with butter), allowing space around each square. Using a pastry brush, glaze each square with the egg wash and then place the baking sheet in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the puff pastry to chill.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and you can see jam oozing slightly out of the sides of each pastry. If you have hot spots in your oven, ensure that you turn the baking sheet every 10 minutes or so to allow for an even bake.
Chef's tip: "Typically I use guava paste, but when that is not readily available, any jam will do, particularly those with a tangy or tart flavor. The pictured version features fig. You can also substitute the filling for seasoned beef."
You can also find this recipe here.
