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READY IN 40 mins

Portuguese Custard Tarts - Pasteis de Nata

Read Reviews (77)

"These are delicious Portuguese Custard Tarts." — John J. Pacheco

Ingredients Edit and Save

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Original recipe makes 12 tarts Change Servings

1 cup milk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 vanilla bean

1 cup white sugar
6 egg yolks
1 (17.5 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed

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Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Lightly grease 12 muffin cups and line bottom and sides with puff pastry.
In a saucepan, combine milk, cornstarch, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Place egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of hot milk mixture into egg yolks. Gradually add egg yolk mixture back to remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove vanilla bean.
Fill pastry-lined muffin cups with mixture and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and filling is lightly browned on top

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PREP 20 mins
COOK 20 mins
READY IN 40 mins

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The traditional way to line the cups is to take the sheet of puff pastry and roll it into a loaf, then cut slices and place the in the cups, pressing down so that the dough flattens and there is a bit of a rim of thicker pastry at the top. That way they come out with very crispy and flaky shells.

—Lynne C.

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Jan 13, 2011

I don't think I've ever rated anything one star before. Really, a failure all around. I used my stoneware muffin pan, cut the rounds of dough & rolled them out 1. the dough never cooked on the bottom, resulting in a doughy blob. 2. We salvaged the custard and it is just okay. Way too sweet, strange texture, too eggy, bland flavor. Would have preferred a pudding-like consistency. Won't make again and I love sweets & pastries!

—Jennifer C.

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99 Ratings

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Jul 14, 2008

I grew up eating these custards in Macau (a Portuguese colony) so i came in as a tough critique. This was my first time however actually make this, for some reason i though it would be really hard, but i was amazed how easy it was. My whole family loved them, they were gone in several hours. My only suggestion is to use the paper muffin liners. I sprayed half my pan and used the muffin liners for the other half and the greased ones stuck pretty bad, but the paper was great. I also used trader Joes puff pastry and just cut squares for ease... They looked a little different than the authentic ones, but the taste is excellent. I will definitely make again. Oh.. I also used a half tsp of vanilla instead of the vanilla bean.

—B Spradley

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Sep 11, 2006

Excellent recipe! I used mini muffin cups, the filling was enough for 30, and I used 1 and a half packages of puff pastry. Everyone wanted the recipe. The smaller "pasteis" were just perfect for a sweet table.

—IDALINA

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Dec 28, 2006

Easy to make and yummy too. The sweetness blended very well with the puff pastry.

—Nana Sidek

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Dec 04, 2005

mmmmm. THese were soo good. I was doubtful because the recipe looked so easy, but they were gone in 10 minutes. I didn't have a vanilla pod so I used 2 tsp vanilla essence, which was fine. I used the best ever pie crust from this site, and this worked really well. I was tempted to find a pie crust recipe which had sugar in it, but this one is perfect (and soo easy)

—beloddy

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May 16, 2007

This is just like the ones my grandmother would get that were imported on special holidays; I gave her one, and my mom, and and aunt and they loved them! I actually topped them with fresh raspberries and the flavours whent together perfectly! My grandma told me to call her the next time I make them so we can do it together.

—Christine-CanadianCook

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Oct 22, 2005

I had these in Europe and was dying to make them at home. The custard is very delicious and very easy to prepare. The puff pastry was a bit tricky and time-consuming to work with in the muffin cups. I think I will attempt to use another type of pastry that has a bit more of a delicate and flakier texture like of the one's I experienced in Europe. Nonetheless, these custard tarts were yummy and I will make them again, just gotta find that perfect pastry to compliment the custard. Obrigado!

—2WANNA

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Nutrition

Calories
336 kcal
17%

Carbohydrates
38.7 g
12%

Cholesterol
104 mg
35%

Fat
18.2 g
28%

Fiber
0.6 g
3%

Protein
5 g
10%

Sodium
114 mg
5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Portuguese Custard Tarts - Pasteis de Nata

Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 336
Calories from Fat: 163

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 18.2g 28 %
Saturated Fat 5g 25 %
Cholesterol 104mg 35 %
Sodium 114mg 5 %
** Potassium 65mg 2 %
Total Carbohydrates 38.7g 12 %
Dietary Fiber 0.6g 3 %
Protein 5g 10 %
Sugars 18.5g
** Vitamin A 3 %
** Vitamin C < 1 %
** Calcium 5 %
** Iron 13 %
** Thiamin 18 %
** Niacin 21 %
** Vitamin B6 3 %
** Magnesium 3 %
** Folate 25 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.