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Overview

Romeu e Julieta

Goiabada com Queijo, Brazilian Guava Paste with Cheese

This romeu e julieta recipe is just two ingredients: a slice of firm, ruby-red guava paste laid over a slice of mild queijo Minas frescal. The salt in the cheese makes the guava taste sweeter, and the guava makes the cheese taste creamier — a pairing Brazilians have loved for generations. One serving is about 101 g.

Romeu e Julieta — Romeo and Juliet — is named for Shakespeare's lovers because the salty cheese (Romeu) and the sweet guava paste (Julieta) are an unlikely pair that belongs together. The combination comes from Minas Gerais, Brazil's dairy heartland, where goiabada and queijo minas have been made side by side for centuries, and it is served after lunch, at parties and as an afternoon snack across Brazil.

Pairs well with: Black coffee, guava juice & buttered toast

Provenance

Brazil flag Brazil

Minas Gerais Classic

Latin America & Caribbean

Time Dedication

5m

5m prep • 0m cook

Batch Yield

4 Servings

285 kcal per serving

1 serving ≈ 101 g

Technical Skill

Easy

Easy (No-Cook)

Meal Timing & Digestive Fit

Breakfast

Not Advised

Lunch

Inappropriate

Dinner

Inappropriate

Snack & Tea

Ideal Light Bite

Quick Prep (<30m) Occasions: Afternoon snacks, after lunch, parties, cheese boards Cost: Low — about $2–3 per serving at home
Tags: Cheese Sweet Vegetarian
A slice of white Minas cheese topped with a thick layer of red guava paste

Minas Gerais Classic

Photo: إيان, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Heritage Formulary

Measured Ingredients

Estimated cost: Low — about $2–3 per serving at home (USD)

A classic Brazilian pairing: a slice of firm guava paste laid over a slice of mild queijo Minas frescal, served cold.

Execution Methodology & Culinary Technique

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Active 5m
P

Chill, slice and stack

5 minutes

Keep the cheese and the guava paste in the fridge until you are ready — cold pieces slice cleanly and hold their shape. Pat the cheese dry, then cut both the cheese and the guava paste into slices about 1 cm (3/8 inch) thick and the same size, so every bite has the same balance of sweet and salty.

Maestro Tip: Slice both pieces the same size and the same thickness: the magic of this dish is the 1:1 balance of cheese and guava in every bite.

  1. 1

    Slice the cheese

    2 minutes No heat

    Pat the Minas cheese dry with paper towel. Cut it into 4 slices about 1 cm (3/8 inch) thick, all roughly the same size.

    A sharp, thin knife and cold cheese give the cleanest cuts — warm cheese crumbles.

    Done when: Cheese is cut into 4 neat, even slices.

  2. 2

    Slice the guava paste

    2 minutes No heat

    Cut the guava paste into 4 slices the same size and thickness as the cheese slices.

    Wipe the knife between cuts so the paste does not stick and tear.

    Done when: Guava paste is cut into 4 slices matching the cheese.

  3. 3

    Stack and garnish

    1 minute No heat

    Lay one slice of guava paste on top of each slice of cheese. Arrange the stacks on a small plate and tuck a mint leaf on top of each one.

    For a party, cut the stacks into small cubes and push a toothpick through each one.

    Done when: Four neat stacks, guava on cheese, garnished with mint.

  4. 4

    Serve

    1 minute No heat

    Serve at once, cold, with black coffee. If you like, warm the guava paste gently in a small pan with a spoonful of water until it turns into a glossy sauce, and spoon it over the cold cheese instead.

    Serve cold — the contrast between the cold cheese and the sweet paste is the point of the dish.

    Done when: Stacks are cold, neat and ready to eat.

Finishing Touches & Plating

Serve the romeu e julieta cold, with black coffee — the bitter coffee against the sweet guava and salty cheese is the classic Brazilian afternoon.

Nutritional Physiology & Benefits

Nutrition

Energy

285

kcal / serving

Protein

9g

Complete AA

Carbs

39g

Complex

Fats

10g

Healthy

Per serving (4 servings · 1 serving ≈ 101 g)
Energy285 kcal
Protein9 g
Carbohydrates39 g
Fat10 g
Fibre1.6 g
Sugar36.5 g
Sodium381 mg
Per 100g
Energy282 kcal
Protein9.2 g
Carbohydrates38.8 g
Fat10.2 g
Fibre1.6 g
Sugar36.1 g
Sodium377 mg

Nutrition values are estimated — calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients.

Vitamins & minerals: The cheese supplies calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B12, and the guava paste adds vitamin C and fibre from the fruit. All nutrition values are estimated.

Just two ingredients

No cooking, no added fat, no hidden extras — guava paste and fresh cheese, both easy to find in any Latin market.

Cheese for protein and calcium

With about 9 g of protein per serving, the Minas cheese turns a sweet snack into something that actually satisfies.

Real fruit in the paste

Goiabada is made from guava pulp and sugar, so it still brings vitamin C and fibre from the fruit.

Food Pairings

What to Eat With

To optimize nutrient absorption and elevate the sensory depth, pair with these authentic accompaniments:

Drinks

Black coffee (cafezinho)

Bitter, strong Brazilian coffee is the classic partner: it cuts the sweetness of the guava and makes the salty cheese taste creamier.

Guava juice

Cold guava juice doubles down on the fruit flavour and is the alcohol-free choice for children.

Sides

Buttered toast

A slice of warm, buttered toast turns the snack into a fuller afternoon meal without competing with the pairing.

Full Menus

After a feijoada lunch

In Brazil this is the classic sweet finish to a heavy lunch — a small, cold, sweet-salty bite after the rich beans and meat.

Complete menu

Serve the romeu e julieta as the sweet finish to a Brazilian lunch, with black coffee, or as part of a cheese board with buttered toast.

Digestive Guardrails

What NOT to Combine

To prevent digestive distress, sluggishness, or palate clash, avoid pairing the dish with these elements:

More sugar on top

One serving already carries about 36 g of sugar from the guava paste. Adding honey, condensed milk or sweet drinks on top pushes the sugar much higher. This is general information, not medical advice — ask a clinician about your own sugar limits.

Sharp or aged cheese

Strong cheeses such as gorgonzola or aged cheddar overpower the guava and break the balance. Mild, milky fresh cheese is the point of the pairing.

General information only, not medical advice — consult a doctor for personal dietary decisions.

Who Should Eat It

Who Should Eat

  • General adultsA quick sweet snack. One serving with coffee is enough — the guava paste is very sweet.
  • ChildrenChildren love the sweet-salty combination. Cut the stacks into small cubes and serve one stack per child.
  • ElderlySoft and easy to chew, no cooking needed. Serve one stack, cold, with coffee or juice.
  • Pregnant womenGenerally suitable in small portions — the cheese is pasteurised fresh cheese. Keep to one serving because of the sugar; ask your clinician if unsure.
  • Breastfeeding womenA quick, calcium-rich snack between feeds. Keep to one serving and drink water alongside it.
  • AthletesAbout 9 g of protein per serving helps recovery, but the sugar is high — treat it as a dessert, not a training snack.
  • Weight gainAt about 285 calories a serving, it is an easy way to add energy — enjoy a full serving with toast.
  • Weight lossEnjoy a half serving with black coffee and skip the toast; the guava paste is mostly sugar, so a full serving adds up fast.

Health Conditions — Adjust or Avoid

Conditions

  • DiabetesAbout 39 g of carbohydrates per serving, mostly sugar from the guava paste, so portion size matters a lot. A half serving with coffee is wiser; ask your clinician or dietitian for a portion that fits your plan.
  • High blood pressureSodium is about 381 mg per serving from the cheese, which is moderate. Keep to one serving; ask your clinician about your own sodium limits.
  • Kidney diseaseThe dish is moderate in sodium and protein, so keep to one serving. Ask your clinician or dietitian whether it fits your plan.
  • GoutCheese and guava paste are low in purines, so this dish is generally fine in modest portions. Ask your clinician for personal advice.
  • Stomach issuesA cold, soft snack that is usually gentle on the stomach. The sugar can bother some people, so eat slowly and in a small portion; ask your clinician if symptoms persist.
  • Cardiovascular diseaseHigh in sugar and saturated fat for its size, so keep it an occasional small treat rather than a daily snack. Ask your clinician about your own diet.
  • Fatty liverHigh in sugar, so a small portion on occasion is wiser than a full serving. Ask your clinician or dietitian for guidance.
  • Food allergiesContains milk (Minas cheese). Naturally gluten-free. Check the guava paste label for other allergens.
  • Special therapeutic dietsSuitable for vegetarian and gluten-free diets as written, if the cheese is made with vegetarian rennet — check the label. Not suitable for dairy-free or low-sugar diets; ask your clinician or dietitian before adapting it.

If you have a medical condition, consult your doctor before changing your diet.

Storage & Use

Storage & Use

How to store
Store the cheese and guava paste separately in the refrigerator, wrapped well; stack just before serving.
In the fridge
Cheese 3–4 days; guava paste 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
In the freezer
Guava paste 3 months; cheese does not freeze well.
How to reheat
Do not reheat — serve cold. The guava paste may be warmed gently into a sauce if you like.
Freezing recommended
Only for the guava paste, up to 3 months.
Signs it has spoiled
Sour smell from the cheese, white mould on the guava paste, or a slimy surface on the cheese.

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