Nieve de guayaba (Guava Ice)

One of the things I miss the most about Mexico is the countless varieties of fruits that are available. Because of its tropical regions, Mexico produces an abundance of fruits, many not easily found elsewhere. These fruits end up in candies, desserts, even drinks and sodas. Many Mexican restaurants in Toronto will offer tamarind or guava flavored soft drinks.

Ice creams and ices are delicious way to enjoy fruits, especially if they are not in season. Here is a recipe for a dairy-free guava ice, and a big bonus is that the guavas will perfume you kitchen as you wait for them to ripen. The recipe is modified from a recipe for ice from the book "Mexican Flavors" by Laura Anhalt.

Ingredients

1 lb round yellow guavas

2 cups water

2 1-inch cinnamon sticks, preferably Mexican

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

rind of 1/2 lime

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup water

pinch of sea salt

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

2 egg whites

Rinse the guavas and cut off the small black remains at the base of the fruit. Cut them in half horizontally, leaving the peel intact.

Put the rest of the ingredients in a heavy pan that will fit the guavas in one layer. Bring to a boil and boil for about 8 minutes. Place the guavas cut side down into the syrup and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn and simmer for another 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Once they are cool, remove the centers and press the centers throuigh a fine sieve, returning the juice and pulp to the cooking syrup. You want to get as much as the pulp as you can.

Remove the cinnamon sticks from the guava syrup and blend the cooked guavas, syrup, salt, extra sugar, water and lime juice until smooth. Place in a ceramic or crystal container, covered, in the freezer for 2 hours.

Beat the 2 egg whites until stiff. Take out the guava mixture from the freezer and break the ice that started forming. Fold in the egg whites and return to the freezer for at least another 3 hours.

Notes

I've adapted this recipe from the cookbook Mexican Flavors, by Laura Anhalt. I love it because it is easy and doesn't require an icecream maker. You can substitute guavas for other fruit, like sour sop (guanábana), which you can get at FreshCo. If the fruit you are using is already sweet and flavorful, skip the process of cooking and adding water, cinnamon and sugar.