Name: 3 Ingredient Guava Paste Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 95 min
Ingredients: 2.2 pounds Guavas; 2 cup Water; 4 cups Brown Sugar

Helene Dsouza

Guava Paste is the name for a popular sweet made with fresh Guavas. It's also known as Guava cheese.

Total Time: 1 35

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 1 30

30 Guava paste sweets

RECIPE

Guava Paste (aka Guava Cheese, Goiabada) is a sweet delicacy which is common in former Portuguese colonies and several tropical regions in this world.

Global Food Recipes

with Spices and Herbs

Free E-Book available for a limited time. Grab yours now and get instantly inspired!

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

You missed out!

Jump to:

What is Guava Cheese?
How to make Guava Pasta?
More tropical fruit Recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

The guava fruit is a versatile tropical fruit which finds good use in the kitchens of countries along the Equator, such as in a Guava Jam.

What is Guava Cheese?

Guava cheese is not a milk product, it's just the name for this sweet dish prepared in places such as in Goa (India), Brazil, and other former Portuguese colonies.

In other parts of the world, such as in Brazil and the English-speaking countries, Guava cheese might be better known as Guava paste, Goiabada or Guava cheese.

The Portuguese had been preparing quince cheese and quince jelly for centuries, and then used the same preparation method to make a sweet with guava.

That's how Guava cheese came to be!

How to make Guava Pasta?

To make Guava cheese is super easy but very time-consuming! I am not going to lie to you, even I got impatient at some point while cooking it.

I ended up with far too much video footage for the Guava cheese making that I had to shorten the video to make it all fit into the video time frame.

Yet, Guava cheese is worth all the trouble and the time spent making this wonderful natural sweet from scratch!

I usually don't like sweets, but Guava cheese is my ultimate kryptonite!

Guava Cheese made from scratch melts in the mouth, it's fruity sweet being clouds my reason and I take in each bite before picking up another one, of course, in full automatic mode.

Moreover, Guava Cheese only requires 3 ingredients: Fresh ripe Guava fruits, Sugar and water, that's it!

First you prepare the seedless pulp before slow stir-fry cooking it with sugar and some water for at least 90 minutes (yeah I know, but just think of the incredible sweet reward!!!) until the paste thickens to a candy consistency.

Then you just need it to cool and cut it however you want.

As I said, making Guava Cheese is easy, it's just time-consuming, so you should do that on a day off when you have some time for yourself.

For the full recipe with detailed instructions in black and white, please see further below, the Guava cheese recipe card.

More tropical fruit Recipes

📖 Recipe

3 Ingredient Guava Paste Recipe

Guava Paste is the name for a popular sweet made with fresh Guavas. It's also known as Guava cheese.

4.75 from 8 votes

Print Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 1 30

Total Time: 1 35

Servings: Guava paste sweets

Calories: 134kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

▢ 2.2 pounds Guavas
▢ 2 cup Water
▢ 4 cups Brown Sugar

US - Metric

Instructions

Wash your fruits well, cut off the ends and discard those parts. Cut your fruits into quarters, if they are bigger than mine, then just cut them a little smaller. Place into a cooking pot with a part of the water, that means add about 300 milliliters or 1 ½ cups to the fruit. Cook the fruits until soft for about 15–20 minutes.
Once cooked, mash directly with a stick blender. If you are using a regular blender, let cool a bit first and transfer the fruits to the blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Then grab a mixing bowl with a sieve and strain the pulp so that the guava seeds are separated from the pulp. Discard the seeds.
Add the pulp back into the cooking pot and add in all the sugar! Place on the heat, keep it on medium and at the end pour in the remaining water, which is about 100 milliliter or ½ cup.
From now on, just stir the content and always keep the heat in mind. The mass should never burn, but it should also reduce enough in a timely manner. I would keep it on induction on a medium heat level. As long as you stir, nothing can go wrong anyway!
You will need to stir the content until it thickens in such a way that you can add a little of the candy mass into water and if it doesn't dissolve but stays firm, then it's ready. In total, you will be stirring and reducing the mass for about 60–80 minutes non-stop.
Grease your mold.
If you have poured the mass into the mold and if after having cooled down, you tried to cut but realized it was far too soft, then just take back the whole mass into something like a non-stick pan and just stir-fry it for another 10–20 minutes or until the whole thing gets thicker (do the water test). Then you can just pour it back into the greased and prepared mold and cut it when it has cooled down.
Even after letting the guava paste cool for 1–2 hours, you can already cut the Guava cheese in its still warm state into whatever you like. The Guava cheese can be cut into diamonds, as I did, by cross-cutting.

Notes

Use only organic/untreated Guavas for this because the fruits are not peeled!
Guava pulp is slow cooked over a long period of time until the paste thickens. After that, it is left to cool in a buttered mold.
It's easier to work with a nonstick pot! So what I like to do is I first cook the mass in a higher steel pot, then after 60+ minutes cooking I transfer it into a smaller nonstick shallow pan. The nonstick will help you to get the correct consistency quickly, which is due to the shape of the pan too. Furthermore, at some point, you are just fed up looking at the same pot 😀
I also use brown sugar because the flavors suit the guavas better; however, you can use regular sugar too, but if you can, try to use only brown sugar.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

3 Ingredient Guava Paste Recipe

Amount Per Serving (72 g)

Calories 134

% Daily Value*

Sodium 9mg0%

Potassium 177mg5%

Carbohydrates 33g11%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 31g34%

Vitamin A 210IU4%

Vitamin C 75.9mg92%

Calcium 31mg3%

Iron 0.3mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Comments

4.75 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

António Fernandes says

March 07, 2020 at 4:43 pm

In Goa we also call it Perad, that's what it's traditionally called. 🙂

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  March 08, 2020 at 8:59 am
  
  yep, I love Perad! 🤤
  Thanks for sharing António!
  
Sandra says

September 08, 2019 at 9:25 am

I really want to try this but I’m wondering if I can use honey, molasses or maple syrup instead of sugar.

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  September 08, 2019 at 12:08 pm
  
  You can use honey, molasses or maple syrup but make sure to consume the sweets within days. Sugar helps to preserve the guava pastes longer.
  
Jo says

May 29, 2018 at 10:35 am

Can I pour the mixture into a jar or pot to set and use as a paste rather than slices?

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  May 29, 2018 at 11:42 am
  
  Yes sure! If you don' t cook it further (to a very thick consistency), you can use it as a jam as described in the post. Just test if it's set with a thermometer. jam setting temperature is 105 Celsius/220 Fahrenheit. Store in clean sterilized jars.
  
Jenny says

November 08, 2017 at 3:47 am

I don't think I've ever actually eaten a guava fruit, just had the drink in a can. LOL I so need to try this!

Tiffany Yong says

November 05, 2017 at 1:55 pm

Hmmm, you use pink guava here and I wonder if it works when I use normal white guava? I thought Guava cheese has cheese. Would it still work if I don't use sugar or less sugar?

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  November 05, 2017 at 11:02 pm
  
  Yes it would work with white guava and no you can't omit the sugar as this makes this dish as it is. nor can you reduce the sugar because the sugar amount is needed to A. preserve the sweet candy and B. to keep the consistency as it it.
  
Travel tips says

November 03, 2017 at 2:23 pm

Oh. It sounds delicious. I love guyava but never have tasted sweets made by it

Menaka Bharathi says

November 01, 2017 at 10:15 am

It is time for guavas here and what better recipe than this, seems easy to make too. I shall keep this bookmarked and try for sure

Elizabeth O says

November 01, 2017 at 1:28 pm

I've tried some guava recipe. Like guava jar and it tastes so good. and I am looking for more easy and quick recipe in guava. I am looking forward to trying this guava paste.

Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says

November 01, 2017 at 7:48 am

This is so creative! I have never heard of guava cheese before.

Paige Flamm says

November 01, 2017 at 10:21 am

All your recipes look amazing! I'll have to try them soon!

Frank says

October 31, 2017 at 11:34 am

Haven't tried this but it's awesome recipe definitely gonna try and add to my low calories recipes collection

acupofassamtea says

October 31, 2017 at 8:34 am

I love Guava. My mom makes very good guava jam. Never hear of guava cheese. Looks decadent. Love your presentation too.

Colleen says

October 31, 2017 at 5:43 am

I've only had guava when visiting Hawaii. It's not common to find in Canada, but I loved it. Such an interesting recipe, and info! Thanks for sharing!

peter @feed your soul too says

October 31, 2017 at 3:55 am

I have worked with guava once before. Really cool and I really liked it. You just can't find it around here. Your cheese looks so good.

Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says

October 30, 2017 at 7:49 pm

I love guava but I don't think I've had anything like this before. I've tasted guava jam which is amazing and I'm sure the paste will taste just as good if not better.

Meghna Dixit says

October 30, 2017 at 11:49 pm

Such a unique dish. I think I am going to make it at home

Emily Terrell says

October 30, 2017 at 10:31 pm

I never would have guessed that guava could make such a dish! Looks amazing and fun.

Shubhada Bhide says

October 30, 2017 at 9:46 pm

Oh this Guava Cheese looks so interesting vegan recipe. This looks good, will check and try this recipe.

JAGRITI ROY says

October 30, 2017 at 9:13 pm

Guava is one of my favorite fruit but it was not known to me till now that it can also be a part of such delicious platters.. I will definitely give it a try whenever I visit Goa.. Guava cheese cake will be definitely in my list of foods to taste..

corinne & kirsty says

October 30, 2017 at 2:50 pm

I love guava! More specifically guava fruit! My dad always used to buy it when I was growing up! so good!

Preet says

October 30, 2017 at 7:44 pm

This looks so delicious, I like the way it turned out. Guava is one of my favorite fruits and I am going to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing, I didn't even know we can make something with Guava, I have eaten it raw with black salt all my life.

Meenakshi J says

October 30, 2017 at 12:45 pm

I can eat the fruit but cannot get myself to have Guava in any other form.But,my kid loves it and I am gonna try this recipe of yours.

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  October 30, 2017 at 2:00 pm
  
  Oh really, now that's interesting. How come?
  
Anu says

October 30, 2017 at 11:53 am

I have been buying and eating this in Goa. I did not know it could be made rather easily. Guava is my favorite fruit for two reasons - one I like the taste and keeps the tummy very clean. Second - a bit of nostalgia - there used to be a huge Guava tree in my grandparents home and all of us used to climb the tree to play, to spot Guavas at the top of the tree. We used to eat them raw with a bit of salt - that taste is still there on my tongue.

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  October 30, 2017 at 1:59 pm
  
  Those are memories I wished I had. 😀
  Yeah it's easy to make Guava cheese, it's just time consuming and it will tear on your patience. Best is to listen to music or some debate when making this. That's why I don't add the sound to the video. ^.^
  
Laura says

October 30, 2017 at 9:22 am

I love this article, such a complete guide for guava. Now I feel I have to go look for it and try your recipe.

Pooja Kawatra says

October 30, 2017 at 8:30 am

THis is something new and would love to try it. Anyhow, I love pink guava and its juice.

Sues says

October 30, 2017 at 6:35 am

I love guava, but have never even heard of guava cheese. This post is so educational!

Brandi says

October 30, 2017 at 6:10 am

I've never had this. It looks so good!

Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

October 30, 2017 at 5:35 am

What a fun recipe! I didn't know much about guava but now I'm thinking I need to try using it in the kitchen!

Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

October 30, 2017 at 3:22 am

Oh wow this looks so amazing! Definitely going to have to give this a try!

Sam | Ahead of Thyme says

October 30, 2017 at 2:25 am

Wow, I have never heard of a recipe like this. So creative and looks so tasty!

Serena says

October 30, 2017 at 2:14 am

I love guava. So hard to find in Austin. Can't wait to try this!

Angie@Angie's Recipes says

October 30, 2017 at 12:02 am

I always eat guava raw...this is such a fun and different way to enjoy this aromatic fruit.

Aparna Balasubramanian says

October 29, 2017 at 8:41 pm

This is something I like. It's called Perad, right? I used to buy it at a bakery in Panaji. Miss it now.

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  October 30, 2017 at 2:02 pm
  
  Yes, cheese cake in Goa is called Perad! I completely forgot to mention that in the article and the fact that it's easily available in shops in Goa. Maybe Aparna you could make some at home? Otherwise I will make sure to keep some ready, next time you come by Goa. 😀
  
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

October 29, 2017 at 8:09 pm

This is so unique!!! Can't wait to try it! Cheers!