How to make the most of guava season

It is no secret that the reigning royalty of summer fruits includes mangoes, lychees, pineapples, various berries, guavas, etc. And while we have said goodbye to most of these fruits as the season comes to an end, guavas are just about coming to a peak.

Here are 8 ways to make the most out of this guava season while they are still in the market!

Raw Guava Salad

A raw guava salad is honestly one of the best things you could do with your guavas. Tangy, spicy, utterly delicious and unbearably easy, it's the perfect snack, appetiser or even a meal during this hot summer heat. Toss your thinly sliced sour raw guavas with julienned carrots, onions, and lime juice for the quickest and yummiest tropical salad!

Popsicles

Another great way to beat the summer heat? Ice-cold guava popsicles! Blend the soft, ripe guavas and strain them to remove the pulp and fibres from the juice. Freeze the juice in popsicle moulds, freeze them and enjoy!

Chutney

As a Bengali, chutney is well-beloved across all households and while mint or coriander chutney are frequent choices, guava chutney is another tasty alternative that you can make at home with only a few ingredients. Guavas, green chillies, chilli powder, coriander, and lime juice combine to make a rich chutney that goes well with any snack such as kebabs, samosas, chips, etc.

Jams and Jellies

Photo: Collected

Turning fresh fruit into jams and jellies is a universal practice that is well justified because nothing truly beats homemade jams. And making guava jam is easier than easy because of the high amount of pectin and sugar in the fruit. And you are set for summer sandwiches, charcuterie board spreads, and whatever else your heart desires!

Cakes and Pastries

Now for this one, you need your homemade guava jam but it's so, so worth the extra hassle because nothing is better than a fresh vanilla cake with guava jam filling and sweet whipped cream on top. Serve this during tea time or as the showstopper dessert at a dawat and blow everyone away!

Sweet and Spicy Barbeque Sauce

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

What is better than a tangy, spicy, and sinfully sweet barbeque sauce? Fruits are no strangers in barbeque sauce — in fact, all the best barbeque sauces have some mango or peach in them. And in the same vein, the fruity flavours of guava complement the smoky barbeque sauce perfectly!

Guava Juice and Smoothies

Making and drinking fresh guava juice while the summer heat persists has to be one of life's greatest pleasures. Similarly, it's just as easy to make your breakfast smoothie with ripe, pink and soft guavas as well as other tropical fruits such as passion fruit, peaches etc!

Simply Guava

The best way to enjoy a guava though is to simply eat the guava as it is. No frills, no garnish (although you can never go wrong with some smoked paprika or chaat masala) — simply sweet guava!

Guavas are an extremely healthy fruit amazingly rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, and fibre. This is great for your health and body because now nothing can stop you from having guava in all the ways you can every single day while the season lasts!