Portuguese Egg Tart (葡式蛋挞, Pastel de Nata)

A portuguese egg tart recipe that creates a crispy crunchy layered crust with a creamy and effectively balanced custard filling that isn’t too candy. Irrespective of should you’re serving them for a weekend brunch, afternoon tea snack, or as an edible present, they’re the proper possibility. {Vegetarian}

What’s Portuguese egg tart

Portuguese egg tart, also referred to as “Pastel de Nata,” encompasses a layered and flaky crust produced from puff pastry, crammed with a wealthy creamy custard. The highest is commonly caramelized, giving it a barely burnt look and a wealthy taste. 

These pleasant tarts have been first launched by the Portuguese in Macau within the late twentieth century. Since then, they’ve develop into probably the most common pastries in China. 

Why this recipe

Portuguese egg tart was considered one of my favourite pastries again once I was dwelling in China. After consuming it within the US, I used to be shocked that they have been fairly completely different from the model I used to be aware of. 

In comparison with the Portuguese egg tarts in China, the American model is normally a lot sweeter, the custard is runnier, and the crust is sort of skinny. However, the Chinese language model encompasses a barely thicker crust that’s extra flaky and crispy. The custard is a little more set, has a wealthy perfume of egg and milk, and is mildly candy. 

For me, the Chinese language model has a way more balanced texture and taste profile, which I desire. 

That’s why I labored with my pastry chef Emily Drucker to develop this Portuguese egg tart recipe that ticks all of the containers in my ebook.

Portuguese egg tart elements

Substances for the crust

The portuguese egg tart crust consists of simply 4 frequent pantry elements:

• All-purpose flour
• Butter
• Water
• Salt

From these easy elements, you’ll be making a layered pastry dough that makes a brilliant flaky and crispy crust identical to skilled bakeries.

Substances for the custard

The elements for the custard are fairly easy as effectively and you may in all probability discover every part in your fridge and pantry:

• Milk
• Egg yolks
• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Lemon
• Cinnamon sticks
• Water

A variety of Portuguese egg tart recipes use vanilla as an alternative of cinnamon sticks. For me, I discover the latter taste extra advanced and distinctive. You need to use both flavoring technique relying in your style.

This recipe creates a wealthy, creamy custard that’s fragrant and never too candy. It pairs completely with the crispy crust to create a dessert that’s irresistible!

How one can make Portuguese egg tart

Put together the dough

1. Mix the flour, salt and water
2. Combine with a spatula
3. Combine till a dough is shaped
4. Knead the dough briefly
5. Let the dough relaxation for quarter-hour
6. The dough will develop into easy and sticky

Make the pastry dough – 1st half

1. Gently form the dough right into a ball with out kneading
2. Roll the dough to a big rectangle sheet (the precise dimension doesn’t matter)
3. Unfold the softened butter over the dough sheet
4. Fold up the decrease third of the dough
5. Fold down the higher third of the dough
6. Rotate the dough 90 levels
7. Roll the dough out right into a rectangle
8. Brush off extra flour and repeat the identical course of twice

This fashion, you’ll have made a pastry dough with many skinny layers.

Make the pastry dough – 2nd half

1. Trim off the perimeters of the dough so it’s a big sq.
2. Roll the sq. right into a log
3. Gently form the dough to even it out
4. Divide the dough in half (so it’s simpler to sit back within the fridge)
5. You’ll be able to see the dough is properly layered
6. Cowl the dough and switch it into the fridge to sit back for two hours

Prepare dinner the custard

1. Create the syrup by melting the sugar in water with the cinnamon and lemon
2. Warmth the flour, milk and salt in a saucepan
3. Prepare dinner and whisk the combination
4. As soon as thickened, switch the combination to chill off barely
5. Pressure the syrup into the flour milk combination
6. Whisk to mix
7. Add the egg yolk
8. Run the combination by way of a strainer for a easy texture

Assemble the egg tarts and bake

1. Divide every pastry dough log into 5 items (so that you get 10 complete)
2. Dip the lower sides within the flour
3. Roll the dough right into a spherical disk
4. Press the dough right into a muffin tin 
5. Fill the dough with custard
6. Bake till golden brown

As soon as baked, you have to to let the egg tarts relaxation for a couple of minutes. The highest of the tarts will deflate as soon as rested.

Now you possibly can benefit from the tarts whereas heat, or wait till they’ve cool off to room temperature.

How one can retailer and reheat Portuguese egg tart

Portuguese egg tarts style one of the best after they’re recent out of the oven. In the event you’re serving them the identical day you make them, you possibly can retailer them loosely lined at room temperature. For longer storage, seal them in a container and retailer it within the fridge for a couple of days.

You’ll be able to at all times heat up refrigerated egg tarts within the oven earlier than serving.

These Portuguese egg tarts are good for breakfast, afternoon tea, and snacks all through the day. My favourite approach is to pair them with a cup of sizzling tea. 

Frequent questions

Why does my egg tart not have the char on the highest?

In case your oven’s heating component sits on the underside of the oven, your egg tarts may not caramelize correctly. Your finest guess is to make use of a blow torch to brown the highest after the tarts are baked.

Don’t over bake these tarts to get the highest charred. It is going to end in over cooking the custard and make it much less creamy.

What’s the distinction between Portuguese and Chinese language egg tarts?

Chinese language egg tarts, or Hong Kong egg tarts, have a shortcrust pastry and a smoother, extra gelatinous custard filling. The Chinese language model doesn’t have the caramelized high that’s attribute of the Portuguese tart. You’ll be able to confer with my Hong Kong egg tarts recipe.

How one can reheat Portuguese egg tart in an air fryer?

You’ll be able to warmth up the egg tarts at 300°F within the air fryer for a few minutes to heat them by way of earlier than serving. 

Different scrumptious Chinese language bakery recipes

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Portuguese Egg Tart (葡式蛋挞, Pastel de Nata)

A portuguese egg tart recipe that creates a crispy crunchy layered crust with a creamy and effectively balanced custard filling that isn’t too candy. Irrespective of should you’re serving them for a weekend brunch, afternoon tea snack, or as an edible present, they’re the proper possibility. {Vegetarian}

Writer: Maggie Zhu

Course: Bakery

Delicacies: Chinese language

Key phrase: Chinese language bakery fashion

Prep Time: 2 hours hours

Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes minutes

Inactive time: 2 hours hours

Whole Time: 4 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Substances

Dough

• 215 g (1 1/3 cups) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 150 g (1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons) water
• 1 stick (113 g) unsalted butter , very softened (*Footnote 1)

Filling

• 40 g (1/3 cup) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (240 ml) milk
• 5 egg yolks
• Peels of 1 lemon (or 1 teaspoon lemon extract)
• 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1/4 teaspoon floor cinnamon)

Syrup

• 140 g (1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons) sugar
• 57 g (1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons) water

Directions

Put together the dough

• Add the flour and salt right into a medium-sized bowl and stir to combine effectively. Pour within the water. Combine with a spatula till the water has totally integrated and a dough begins to type.

• Evenly mud a clear work floor. Flip the dough onto the floor. Knead briefly, 5 minutes or so, till it varieties a ball with a barely coarse floor. Place the dough again into the bowl and canopy with plastic wrap or a moist towel. Let relaxation for quarter-hour. The dough will develop into easy and really sticky.

Make the pastry

• Mud the working floor with flour once more. Flip the dough onto the floor. Gently form the dough right into a ball with out kneading (to keep away from growing gluten). Then roll the dough into a skinny massive rectangle sheet, about 1/8” thick.

• Utilizing a small offset spatula, unfold 1/3 of the butter everywhere in the floor of the dough, leaving a 1” border on the edges. It’s okay if there’s a couple of small tears at this step, or if the butter doesn’t unfold completely evenly.

• Fold the underside third of the dough as much as cowl the center third, after which fold the remaining high third down so it covers the primary folded half. Rotate the dough 90°, including extra flour as essential to keep away from sticking.

• Repeat rolling and folding course of a second time. If at any level there’s extra flour on the highest of the dough earlier than including butter, brush off evenly with a pastry brush.

• Flip the folded dough one other 90°, and repeat this another time with the final third of the butter.

• With the lengthy aspect of the dough dealing with you, roll the sheet as soon as once more right into a rectangle, about 1/8” thick. Trim 1/2” from all edges to even the perimeters of the dough.

• Roll dough away from you, right into a log, after which gently form it along with your palms to even it out.

• Lower the log in half with a pointy knife, and wrap each halves in plastic. Refrigerate for two hours, or freeze for 1 hour, till agency.

Make the syrup

• Mix the sugar, water, lemon peel, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan. Carry to boil for 1 minute, and take away from warmth to chill. If utilizing lemon extract and floor cinnamon, this may be added as soon as the syrup is faraway from warmth.

Make the custard

• In one other medium-sized saucepan, add the flour, milk, and salt. Prepare dinner over medium warmth, whisking always till thickened, 3 minutes or so. Put aside to chill for at the least 10 minutes.

• As soon as the flour milk paste combination has cooled off, place a small strainer over the pot. Pour within the syrup over the strainer, then discard the lemon peels and cinnamon. Whisk to combine the syrup.

• Add the egg yolk and whisk once more, till evenly integrated.

• Place a small strainer over a big measuring cup or a bowl with a pouring spout. Pour the custard combination by way of the strainer. Use a spatula to push any residual items by way of the strainer. You would possibly need to repeat this step to get a extra easy and even combination.

Assemble and cook dinner the egg tarts

• Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Lower every dough log into 1 1/4” (3 cm) items, creating 10 items in complete.

• Dip the lower ends of items in flour to evenly coat, and with the lower aspect dealing with up. Press then roll it with a rolling pin to type a fair circle, about 3” (7.5cm) inches in diameter. Firmly press the dough into an un-greased muffin tin, easy and press it from the underside to the highest, till the dough reaches simply excessive edges. Repeat with the remaining dough items.

• Fill the pressed dough items about 3/4 full with the custard.

• Bake at 425°F (218°C) for 15 to twenty minutes, rotating midway by way of, till custard is about and pastry is gentle brown on edges. Flip the oven as much as 500°F (260°C) and proceed baking for five extra minutes, till the pastry is golden brown and the custard has darkish, blistered patches. Be aware, relying on the placement of your oven’s heating component, the custard may not brown evenly. To attain one of the best char consequence, you would possibly want to make use of a blowtorch after baking the egg tarts.

• As soon as the egg tarts are cooked, switch the muffin tin to a cooling rack. Permit to chill a bit earlier than eradicating the egg tarts. Benefit from the tarts nonetheless heat or at room temperature.

• (Optionally available) You’ll be able to sprinkle the egg tarts with a mix of 1 tablespoon granulated sugar + 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon as garnish.

Retailer and reheat

• Retailer the egg tarts in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in a 400°F (200°C) oven for five to 10 minutes, to barely heat up the tarts earlier than serving. Don’t freeze the egg tarts.

Notes

1. The butter must be very smooth however not melted. You’ll be spreading the butter over a really skinny and smooth dough. The very smooth butter will guarantee which you could unfold it into a skinny layer with out breaking the dough.

Diet

Serving: 1serving, Energy: 253kcal, Carbohydrates: 35.3g, Protein: 4.4g, Fats: 10.8g, Saturated Fats: 6.1g, Ldl cholesterol: 127mg, Sodium: 185mg, Potassium: 45mg, Fiber: 0.7g, Sugar: 14.6g, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 1mg