Portuguese custard tarts, also known as "pastéis de nata", are a delightful pastry that originated in Portugal. These delectable treats are characterized by their flaky puff pastry crust and smooth, creamy custard filling. With a rich history dating back centuries, Portuguese custard tarts have become a national treasure and a beloved dessert enjoyed by people worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this guide will provide you with essential tips and techniques to create the perfect Portuguese custard tarts, capturing the authentic flavors and textures of this classic delicacy.
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PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (PASTEIS DE NATA)
This slightly streamlined recipe for the world-famous pasteis de nata, or Portuguese custard tarts, uses just few basic ingredients but requires numerous steps and a certain amount of finesse. The results are so worth it, though, you'll want to make a double batch. The extra moisture inside the sticky dough, activated by a very hot oven, creates the signature flaky, buttery, crispy crust, which encases a custard subtly scented with lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Portuguese
Time 4h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Combine flour, salt, and cold water in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dough should be sticky; adjust with more flour or water to achieve what's shown in the video.
- Transfer dough onto a well floured surface. Dust a little more flour over the top. Knead for a minute or two to form a round. Cover and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Roll dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour as necessary; dough should still be sticky.
- Spread 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the square using a silicone spatula, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Flip the unbuttered side over the middle of the square and fold the opposite end over it like a letter. Straighten the edges as needed.
- Turn dough with a bench scraper to unstick it from the counter; dust with flour. Flip and sprinkle more flour on top. Roll dough into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle, carefully stretching edges as needed. Spread another 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the dough. Fold into thirds. Transfer onto a lined baking sheet and freeze until butter is slightly chilled, about 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle dough with flour and roll into a square a little over 1/8 inch thick. Spread remaining butter over the dough, leaving a 1- to 1 1/2-inch border on the top edge. Dip your finger in water and lightly moisten the unbuttered edge. Roll dough into a log starting from the bottom edge. Dust with more flour and polish the ends as needed. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
- Combine sugar, 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, cinnamon, and lemon zest in a pot. Boil over medium heat, without stirring, until syrup reaches 210 to 215 degrees F (100 degrees C). Remove from heat.
- Preheat oven 550 degrees F (288 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
- Whisk flour, salt, and cold milk together very thoroughly in a cold pot. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
- Whisk egg yolks into the cooled milk. Add the sugar syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Strain custard into a glass measuring cup.
- Unwrap the dough and trim any uneven bits on the ends. Score log into 12 even pieces using a knife; cut through.
- Place a piece of dough in each muffin cup. Dip your thumb lightly in some cold water. Press thumb into the center of the swirl; push dough against the bottom and up the sides of the cup until it reaches least 1/8 inch past the top. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with custard.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is browned and bubbly, and the tops start to blister and caramelize, about 12 minutes. Cool tarts briefly and serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 210.2 calories, Carbohydrate 25.2 g, Cholesterol 125.2 mg, Fat 10.6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 3.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.1 g, Sodium 98.3 mg, Sugar 14.1 g
PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: caster sugar, water, cinammon sticks, milk, double cream, egg yolks, egg, vanilla extract, corn flour, puff pastry
Provided by Ellie Holland
Categories Bakery Goods
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F).
- In a small pan, place the sugar, water, and cinnamon stick. Simmer for 3 minutes and set aside.
- Combine milk and cream in a saucepan and place over a medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and set aside.
- To a large bowl, add the egg yolks, whole egg, vanilla extract, and corn flour. Whisk until fully combined and no lumps remain.
- Temper the egg mixture by introducing the hot milk and cream in two 100 milliliter batches, then whisk.
- Return mixture to the saucepan and place over a low-medium heat. Whisk continually until mixture thickens. Turn off heat.
- Remove cinnamon stick from the syrup and slowly trickle into the custard, whisking continually.
- Lightly flour a work surface and cut puff pastry into 12 equal pieces.
- To a lightly greased muffin tin, push each piece of puff pastry down and up into the sides of the muffin holes until evenly distributed.
- Pour custard into each muffin tin so each one is three quarters full. Bake for 16-20 minutes until golden and brown.
- Serve warm with a dusting of icing sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 378 calories, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 24 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 8 grams, Sugar 13 grams
PORTUGUESE COCONUT CUSTARD TARTS - PASTéIS DE COCO
This rich little dessert is a cross between a custard and a macaroon. Adapted from David Leite, leitesculinaria.com
Provided by momaphet
Categories Tarts
Time 40m
Yield 10 tarts
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Adjust the rack to middle position. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with 10 paper cupcake liners.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/4 cup of the milk. Set aside.
- In a food processor fitted with a metal blade chop the coconut flakes for 30 seconds, or chop well by hand.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir the eggs and sugar together with a wooden spoon. One by one, add the cornstarch mixture, remaining milk, coconut, melted butter and lemon and other extract, stirring well after each addition.
- Ladle the custard into the paper cups, filling to 1/4 inch from the top. (NOTE: Make sure to stir frequently to keep the coconut well distributed.)
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the coconut is nicely toasted. Cool completely in the tin before serving.
PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (PASTEIS DE NATA)
These custard tarts are absolutely delicious! I got this recipe off allrecipes, submitted by John J. Pacheco, and wanted to put it here for safe keeping. Hope he doesn't mind. You could probably substitute vanilla extract for the vanilla bean. I liked the fact that this recipe uses milk istead of heavy cream.
Provided by C. Taylor
Categories Tarts
Time 40m
Yield 12 tarts
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Lightly grease 12 muffin cups and line bottom and sides with puff pastry.
- In a saucepan, combine milk, cornstarch, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Place egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of hot milk mixture into egg yolks. Gradually add egg yolk mixture back to remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove vanilla bean.
- Fill pastry-lined muffin cups with mixture and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and filling is lightly browned on top.
PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS
Make and share this Portuguese Custard Tarts recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Wendys Kitchen
Categories Dessert
Time 30m
Yield 12 tarts
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 220 Degrees Celsius.
- Cut each sheet into 4 10cm circles, line 1/2 cup muffin pan with dough. Refrigerate.
- Stir custard powder, sugar and 1/2 cup cream until smooth.
- Stir in zest and essence.
- Bring remaining cream to boil in saucepan.
- Stir quickly into custard mixture.
- Stir over low heat 2 minutes until thickened.
- Cool 5 minutes and pour into prepared cases.
- Bake in middle oven 15 minutes.
- Dust with icing sugar to serve.
PORTUGUESE EGG CUSTARD TARTS
These diminutive egg tarts - pasteis de nata - a specialty all over Portugal, have a cinnamon flavored custard nestled in a flaky puff pastry crust. The trick here is to bake them in a very hot oven, which causes the custard to puff and the pastry to turn brown and crunchy. You can make the crust and filling ahead, but don't bake them more than an hour or two before serving. They're at their best still warm.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories pies and tarts, dessert
Time 1h
Yield 48 tarts
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into an 18-inch/46-centimeter square. Starting with the edge closest to you, tightly roll the dough into a log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until very firm, at least 30 minutes and preferably overnight.
- Heat the oven to 500 degrees and arrange the oven racks in the top third and lower third of the oven. Place 2 cookie sheets on the oven racks while the oven heats.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cinnamon stick and 2/3 cup/165 milliliters water. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute. Turn off heat and let stand until you're ready to use it.
- Roll the firm log of pastry on a lightly floured surface until 1 inch/2 1/2 centimeters in diameter. Trim the ends, then cut the log into 1/2-inch/12-millimeter slices. (You should have 48.)
- Using a rolling pin, roll one of the pastry rounds into a 2 1/2-inch/63-millimeter circle. Place pastry into the cavity of a mini-muffin tin, and press to evenly flatten the dough against the bottom and sides of the cavity, extending about 1/16 inch/3 millimeters above the rim of the pan. The dough should be about 1/16 inch/3 millimeters thick, with the bottom a bit thicker than the sides. Repeat with the remaining dough, chilling the cut rounds if dough becomes difficult to roll. Refrigerate crusts until firm, at least 10 minutes.
- While the dough chills, finish the filling: In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon/255 milliliters milk over medium-low heat until bubbles begin to form around the edges.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour with the remaining 5 tablespoons/75 milliliters milk. Continue whisking while adding the hot milk in a slow, steady stream. Discard the cinnamon stick from the sugar syrup and whisk the syrup into the milk mixture in a steady stream. Return to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Place the yolks in a large bowl. Whisking constantly, add hot milk mixture to eggs in a slow stream until fully incorporated. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Pour warm filling into pastry shells until they're three-quarters full.
- Transfer tarts to the cookie sheets in oven and bake until the shells are golden brown and crisp, and the custards are golden brown and darkened in spots, 15 to 19 minutes.
- Let cool in the pans on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then pop out tarts to continue cooling on the racks for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 486, UnsaturatedFat 16 grams, Carbohydrate 58 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 162 milligrams, Sugar 29 grams
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best results: fresh eggs, full-fat milk, and real butter.
- Make sure the water in the baking dish is simmering before placing the custard tarts in the oven. This will help create steam and prevent the custard from curdling.
- Bake the custard tarts until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the custard tarts to cool slightly before serving. They will continue to set as they cool.
- Serve the custard tarts with a dusting of cinnamon or powdered sugar.
Conclusion:
Portuguese custard tarts are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With their creamy, custard filling and flaky, puff pastry crust, these tarts are sure to be a hit at your next party or gathering. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give Portuguese custard tarts a try. You won't be disappointed!
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