Indulge in the delectable flavors of Mexican pastelitos, a collection of tempting pastries that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. Embark on a culinary journey through this article, where you'll discover an array of pastelito recipes that showcase the vibrant and diverse flavors of Mexican cuisine. From the classic Pastelitos de Arroz, a delightful combination of sweet rice and raisins, to the savory Pastelitos de Carne, filled with a flavorful blend of ground beef and spices, this article offers a delectable selection of recipes that cater to every palate.
Prepare to be enchanted by the Pastelitos de Queso, where gooey, melted cheese takes center stage, or delight in the sweet and tangy harmony of Pastelitos de Fresa, bursting with fresh strawberries. For a touch of tropical flair, try the Pastelitos de Piña, a delightful treat filled with sweet pineapple chunks. And don't miss the Pastelitos de Chocolate, a chocolate lover's dream come true, with its rich, decadent filling that will satisfy any sweet craving. With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, this article ensures that you can recreate these authentic Mexican pastelitos with ease, bringing the vibrant flavors of Mexico into your own kitchen.
CUBAN PASTELITO DE GUAYABA
Steps:
- In a blender or food processor, add all guava shells and half the syrup from one can. Process until it reaches a smooth consistency. Put puree in a medium saucepan and cook at low heat until reduced to a very thick consistency. Let guava cool and then fill into pastry bag. In a medium mixing bowl, add 4 ounces of water, 2 ounces of butter, and salt and mix until smooth. Then add flour and work well until all ingredients are incorporated. Continue to add water, a little at a time, working the dough until a medium-hard consistency is reached. Form dough into a ball and let rest for 15 minutes. Roll the dough into a flat square, about 1/2-inch thick.
- Place the remaining butter in the middle of square and pat down by hand to form a square about one-half the size of the dough square. Fold over the 4 corners of the dough, 1 at a time, overlapping each other so that a sealed envelope is formed enclosing the butter. Dust with flour and roll out to form a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Now fold 1/3 of the rectangle dough towards the middle and the remaining 1/3 over those 2. Let dough rest for 15 minutes. Now repeat process above of rolling out and folding in 3, 2 more times, resting 15 minutes between each.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Roll out a final time into a rectangle and fold 1/4of the dough on each side to the middle and then fold 1 more time down the middle to form 4 flaps in the fold. Let rest for 15 minutes. Roll out to a rectangle to about 1/8-inch thick. With a knife, cut the flattened dough into a 4-inch wide strip by length of your baking sheet. Lay strip on sheet pan lined with waxed paper and put filling lengthwise in the middle in continuous stream about 3/4-inch in diameter. Spray edges of strips with water and cover with another 4-inch strip of dough the same size as bottom. Press the edges together by hand very softly all the way around. Brush top with egg wash and bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with a simple syrup over the top and bake for another 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and cut crosswise into 16 pieces.
GOURMET PASTELILLOS (MEAT PIES)
The unique flavor of Puerto Rican seasonings, green olives, and lean beef combine in a deep-fried pastry for a deliciously spicy turnover. Can be served small as appetizers or meal size.
Provided by Joanna
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Caribbean
Time 55m
Yield 15
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion, tomato sauce, olives, sofrito, sazon, garlic, and oregano. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
- Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of meat mixture into the middle of a disco. Fold dough over, moisten edges, and press with a fork to seal. Repeat with remaining meat mixture and discos.
- Pour oil into a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Fry pastelillos until golden brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes each. Drain on paper towels before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 290.1 calories, Carbohydrate 27.6 g, Cholesterol 20.8 mg, Fat 15.8 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 10.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 735.9 mg, Sugar 0.3 g
DRIED FRUIT PASTELITOS
This recipe came to The Times in 2011 from Natividad Manzanares of Los Ojos, N.M., who bakes them for her family's Easter gathering. Shortening or lard makes for a supremely tender, flaky crust, but be careful not to overwork the dough.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories dessert
Time 2h
Yield About 20 squares
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- To make the filling, combine the dried fruit and 1 1/2 cups water in a pot over medium-low heat and simmer until fruit is almost mushy, 20 to 30 minutes. Add a little water if needed. Drain the liquid. Working in batches if necessary, put fruit and orange juice in a blender and purée until smooth. Return to the pot, add 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and cloves or nutmeg, and simmer over medium-low heat until thick and jammy.
- To make the crust, heat oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Using your fingertips, rub in the shortening or lard. Make a well in the center and add 4 to 6 tablespoons water, a small amount at a time, and work it into a dough.
- Divide dough in half and roll each half on a lightly floured board to fit a shallow square or rectangular baking pan, about 9 by 12 inches. Line the pan with one sheet of pastry. Spread the fruit mixture evenly over the pastry, leaving a half-inch border. Place second sheet of pastry over the fruit mixture. Cut the pastry edges to just fit inside the rim of the pan. Press the edges of pastry together to seal around the edges. Brush top with milk. Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the pastry. Poke holes in pastry with a fork. Bake 30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and cut into square.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 182, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 20 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 107 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 1 gram
PASTELITOS -- LITTLE FRUIT PIES (SOUTHWEST)
This recipe was found in the 1986 cookbook, I Hear America Cooking. These "little pies" are a version of those pastries made in Arizona & New Mexico, especially during Pueblo feast days. Preparation time does not include the 30 minutes needed for the dough to chill. Although this recipe can be considered 'Native American' I marked it as 'Southwest' as part of the USA -- After all, we're all Americans!
Provided by Sydney Mike
Categories Pie
Time 1h20m
Yield 30 squares, 15 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- FOR THE FILLING: In a saucepan, put apricots in cold water & simmer gently until fruit is soft, about 30 minutes, then drain.
- In a food processor or blender, puree the apricots, then return the puree to the saucepan, add the brown sugar & cook until puree is very thick, about 8-10 minutes.
- Remove puree from heat, then add raisins & nuts, & set aside to cool.
- FOR THE DOUGH: While the puree is cooling, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder & salt, then cut in the butter & shortening until pea-size pieces form.
- Add just enough ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to make the flour stick together, then shape into a flattened ball, wrap in plastic & refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- When the dough is ready, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, then cut the flattened ball in half & roll one of the halves out on a GREASED baking sheet.
- Spread the fruit mixture on top, ALMOST to the edge.
- Roll out the second half of the dough large enough to cover the fruit mixture, then place it on top, before pressing the edges together all around to seal.
- In a small container, whisk together the 1/3 cup of sugar & 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, then sprinkle that on top of the prepared pastry. Finally, with the blunt edge of a table knife, mark the pastry into small squares & prick each square with a fork ~ There should be about 30 small squares marked off.
- Bake about 20 minutes, or until pastry is lightly browned, then cool & cut into the marked squares.
PASTELITOS (GUAVA AND CREAM CHEESE PASTRIES)
In Havana - and in Cuban neighborhoods across the U.S. - pastry shops make many types of cakes and cookies, but the best-sellers are always the pastels and pastelitos, flaky pastries filled with meat, cheese, coconut custard or guava jam. According to "Paladares: Recipes from the Private Restaurants, Home Kitchens, and Streets of Cuba" by Anya von Bremzen (Abrams, 2017), the shape of the pastel correlates with the filling: Triangular pastels are filled with guava paste and cheese, while rectangular ones are filled with just guava. Versailles, a Cuban restaurant in Miami, follows this rule, but at home, just make them rectangular, and add a swipe of cream cheese if desired. You can find guava paste in bricks at Latin American grocers, or swap in about 1/2 cup jam or preserves for a nontraditional take.
Provided by Daniela Galarza
Categories snack, finger foods, pastries, dessert
Time 1h
Yield 8 pastelitos
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Prepare an egg wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg with a pinch of salt and set aside.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll one sheet of puff pastry into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle roughly the size of a standard sheet of paper. (Keep the other puff pastry sheet in the refrigerator.) Dust off any excess flour and lay the rolled pastry sheet on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Dip a pastry brush into the egg wash, and paint a line in lengthwise along the center of the pastry sheet, followed by three crosswise lines, evenly spaced, forming a grid of 8 rectangles, each approximately 3 inches wide and 4 inches long. Brush edges with egg wash. Lay a slice of guava paste in the center of each rectangle (or dot with dollops of jam or preserves, if using). Spread some of the cream cheese, if using, on top of the guava paste (about 1 1/2 tablespoons cream cheese per pastry).
- Remove the second sheet of puff pastry from the refrigerator, and roll it out into an 8-by-11-inch rectangle, dusting with flour as needed to prevent sticking. Lay the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the first. Using the side of your palm, press around and between the mounds of filling, pressing out any excess air, and to glue the top pastry to the bottom, creating 8 even, rectangular pockets. Paint the top sheet of puff pastry with egg wash. Sprinkle the surface with sugar.
- Using a knife or bench scraper, cut out and separate the 8 pastelitos following the original grid in between the indentations in the dough. Trim the perimeter to neaten the rectangles. The dough should still be cool to the touch; if it is warm, return the pastelitos to the refrigerator on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to firm up before baking.
- Bake pastelitos until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
MEXICAN PASTELITOS
Recipe taken from my "Cookies and Bars" cookbook. Haven't tried them yet, but they are on my holiday cookie list.
Provided by DailyInspiration
Categories Dessert
Time 55m
Yield 40 balls
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets. Place the butter and superfine sugar in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Sift the flour, cornstarch, and cinnamon into a separate bowl, then gradually work dry ingredients into creamed mixture with a wooden spoon. When well mixed, knead until smooth.
- Take 1 teaspoons at a time of the mixture and roll into a ball. place the balls on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake in a preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until pale golden.
- Place the confectioners' sugar in a shallow dish and toss the pastelitos in it while they are still warm. Let cool on cooling racks.
Tips:
- Choose the right pastry dough for your pastelitos. You can use either puff pastry or shortcrust pastry. Puff pastry will give you a lighter, flakier crust, while shortcrust pastry will give you a denser, more crumbly crust.
- Make sure your pastry dough is cold before you start working with it. This will help to prevent the dough from becoming tough.
- Roll out the pastry dough to a thickness of about 1/8 inch (3 mm). If the dough is too thick, the pastelitos will be dry and crumbly. If the dough is too thin, the pastelitos will be too delicate and will fall apart easily.
- Use a sharp knife or pastry wheel to cut the pastry dough into circles. This will help to ensure that the pastelitos are evenly cooked.
- Fill the pastry circles with your favorite filling. You can use a variety of fillings, such as fruit, cheese, chocolate, or meat.
- Fold the pastry circles in half and crimp the edges to seal them. This will help to prevent the filling from leaking out.
- Bake the pastelitos in a preheated oven until they are golden brown. The baking time will vary depending on the type of filling you are using.
- Let the pastelitos cool before serving. This will help to prevent the filling from running out.
Conclusion:
Pastelitos are a delicious and versatile treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are perfect for parties, picnics, or just a quick snack. With a little planning, you can easily make pastelitos at home. So next time you are looking for a sweet or savory treat, give pastelitos a try!
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