Portuguese Custard Tart

Portuguese Custard Tarts, also known as Pastéis de Nata, are delicious and iconic Portuguese pastries with a creamy custard filling and flaky puff pastry crust. Here’s a recipe to make these delightful treats:

Ingredients:

For the custard filling:

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Zest of 1 lemon

For the puff pastry:

  • 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • Flour, for dusting

For the caramelized topping:

  • Granulated sugar, for sprinkling
  • Ground cinnamon, for sprinkling

Preparation:

  1. Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) and lightly grease a muffin tin.
  2. In a saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, and egg yolks until well combined.
  4. Gradually add the hot milk to the egg mixture while continuously whisking to avoid curdling.
  5. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and lemon zest. Set aside to cool.
  7. Dust a clean surface with flour and roll out the puff pastry to a thin sheet.
  8. Cut the pastry into squares that are large enough to fit into the muffin tin cups.
  9. Press the pastry squares into the greased muffin tin cups, making sure to create a well in the center for the custard.
  10. Fill each pastry cup with the cooled custard filling, leaving a small space at the top.
  11. Sprinkle each tart with a small amount of granulated sugar and a pinch of ground cinnamon.
  12. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the custard has set.
  13. Remove the tarts from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  14. Serve the Portuguese Custard Tarts at room temperature or slightly warm.