Colombian Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Guava Jam. Esta receta también está disponible en español.
Guava (guayaba in Spanish) is a tropical fruit that is green on the outside and pink on the inside. It is the base of a popular sweet snack called bocadillo or bocadillo veleño in Colombia (see pictures or click here). In other Latin American countries it goes by the name dulce or conserva de guayaba. It is a small block of a firm paste made with ripe guavas and sugar or panela. They come wrapped in little dry palm leaves.
How to eat bocadillo (guava paste)
People eat bocadillo in different ways, for example:
- Just as it is, as a snack
- Combined with a piece of fresh, white cheese like queso campesino or doble crema
- As a filling in pandebonos (Colombian Yuca Cheese Bread)
- As a filling in other breads and baked goods, like roscon
- Stuffed with cheese in a ripe plantain
Basically Colombians love bocadillo in sweet ánd savory dishes, and especially paired with cheese.
Looking for snacks? Click here to find more recipes of Colombian vegetarian snacks!
Colombian Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Guava Jam
In this recipe I use the all-time favorite combination of pairing bocadillo with cheese. I use however a more mature and flavorful cheese, queso Paipa, to make this grilled cheese sandwich. I use blocks of bocadillo to make a guava jam, considering it is the same product with the only difference that the first is firm and the second liquid. Preparing is easy. You only need the following ingredients:
- Slices of bread
- Butter
- Queso Paipa (if unavailable replace with a different cheese of choice like mozarella or cheddar)
- Bocadillo or jam made of guava fruit
For this recipe I melt some blocks of bocadillo with water to get a jam-like consistency. If available to you, you can also directly buy guava paste or guava jam.
Instructions
Put plenty of cheese on one slice of bread. Add the guava jam to the other slice and press together. Butter the outsides generously and bake in a frying or grilling pan until crispy on the outside, and the cheese comes oozing out. Eat while warm and enjoy!
Do you love Colombian food? Click here to find more recipes of Colombian vegetarian food!
Colombian Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Guava Jam
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread of choice
- queso Paipa, sliced thinly or replace with other melty cheese like mozarella or cheddar
- Colombian bocadillo or guava paste/jam
- butter
- water, if necessary
Instructions
- When using blocks of Colombian bocadillo, place in a microwave proof bowl with some water. Microwave until melted (about 30-40 sec), stir halfway. Set aside until using. When using ready-to-use guava jam or paste, check if it needs some water to spread easier
- Put plenty of cheese on one slice of bread. Spread out guava jam of the other and press together firmly. Butter the outsides of the sandwich generously
- Bake sandwich in a frying or grilling pan until the outsides are crispy and the cheese comes melting out. You might want to turn low and put a lid on to get the best meltiest result
- Enjoy while warm
