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Pastéis de Nata - Portuguese Custard Tarts

Fatima Sadal - Chef on Rhine
These famous Portuguese pastries from Belem have a crisp pastry crust filled with a luscious baked egg custard. Fairly easy to make, perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pkt puff pastry 275 g
  • 250 ml milk
  • 2 strips lemon peel
  • 1 stick cinnamon small
  • 30 g flour
  • 180 g sugar fine granulated
  • 125 ml water
  • 4 egg yolks

Instructions
 

  • Dissolve the flour in 1/2 cup milk. Heat the rest of the milk in a pot with the cinnamon stick and the lemon peel. When it comes to a boil, add the flour and mix well. Stir and allow to boil again. Remove from heat.
  • Place the sugar and the water in a pot and bring to boil. Cook for exactly 2 minutes on high heat. Then remove from heat.
  • Add the sugar syrup gradually to the milk and continue stirring.
  • Strain the mixture and allow to cool.
  • Grease a muffin tray with butter and dust with flour.
  • Roll the puff pastry lengthwise into a tight spiral and cut into 10-12 slices.
  • Place the slices into baking molds.
  • With your thumbs start pushing the center of the dough until it reaches the top where it should be thicker. The bottom should have a thinner layer of dough.
  • Bake in preheated oven at 250 C for 10-12 min.
  • Press with the back of a spoon and allow to cool.
  • Add the egg yolks in the milk mixture and whisk.
  • Fill the lined molds with the custard.
  • Place the tray in the oven, preheated at 250 C for 15-18 minutes.
  • Remove from the molds and serve warm or cold. Sprinkle icing sugar or cinnamon to taste.

Notes

  • Always fold the pastry lengthwise to get a longer roulade. Youll be able to yield more pastries this way.
  • High heat is important for a crispy pastry and a few black spots on the top are exactly how it should be.
  • You can make the filling up to several days ahead and assemble them right before baking.