What You Need to Know
Cuban pastries are baked puff pastry–type pastries filled with sweet or savory fillings.
Steps
- 1.
Pastelito de Guayaba (Havana, Cuba): Puff pastry encases guava paste for contrast of crisp layers and fruit filling
- 2.
Pastel de Carne (Miami Cuban diaspora): Savory version using same lamination for picadillo-filled pockets
- 3.
Pastel de Queso (Santiago de Cuba): Cream cheese filling benefits from steam pockets created by laminated dough
The Science
Primary Reaction
Maillard Reaction