Pastéis de Nata: Portuguese for ‘delicious’

  • Nut free

Medium, ready to eat in 45 minutes

It was my Portuguese friend who taught me how to make this classic sweet treat – thanks, Beatriz! Topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and ground cinnamon, these golden tarts are as beautiful as they are delicious. Beatriz and I usually enjoy them warm with a steaming cup of tea or coffee.

  • Prep 20 mins
  • Cook 35 mins
  • Serves 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet of puff pastry
  • 500ml whole milk
  • 150g granulated sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 25g all-purpose flour
  • Powdered sugar and ground cinnamon, for dusting

Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
  2. Roll out the puff pastry sheet slightly on a floured surface and cut it into 12 equal squares. Press each square into the cups of a muffin tin, forming a pastry shell.
  3. In a saucepan, heat the milk, granulated sugar, cinnamon stick, and lemon zest over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Remove the cinnamon stick.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and flour until smooth.
  5. Gradually pour the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
  6. Return the custard mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and reaches a pudding-like consistency.
  7. Spoon the custard into the prepared pastry shells, filling each one almost to the top.
  8. Bake the pastéis de nata in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the custard is lightly browned and set.
  9. Remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool slightly in the muffin tin before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Before serving, dust the pastéis de nata with a mixture of powdered sugar and ground cinnamon for a beautiful finish.
  11. Enjoy these delectable Portuguese custard tarts with a cup of coffee or tea.

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