Pastéis de nata (singular: pastel de nata) are traditional Portuguese custard tarts made with a delicate, flaky puff pastry shell and a rich egg custard filling. Their lightly caramelized top is similar to crème brûlée or crema catalana.
Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, they are flavored with cinnamon and lemon, making them truly irresistible.
According to tradition, these pastries originated in Lisbon at the Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém district. The original recipe was later passed to the famous bakery Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, where they are still known as pastéis de Belém.
They are best enjoyed warm, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar—perfect for breakfast with coffee or as a dessert with a sweet wine.
Ingredients
For the Pastry Base:
2 rolls rectangular puff pastry
For the Custard Cream:
200 ml water
550 ml milk
15 g cornstarch
A pinch of salt
2 whole eggs
6 egg yolks
400 g sugar
55 g flour
1 cinnamon stick
Zest of 1 lemon
For Glazing & Decoration:
50 ml hot water
50 g sugar
Ground cinnamon (to taste)
Powdered sugar (to taste)
You will also need:
Butter (for greasing the pan)
Preparation Method
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