For those who’ve spent any time in Portugal, you’ve undoubtedly encountered the long-lasting pastéis de nata. They beckon from each bakery window with their flaky crusts, custardy facilities, and thoroughly caramelized surfaces.
Within the capital and all through the nation, they’re low-cost, they’re scrumptious, they usually’re completely ubiquitous. You would possibly even say pastéis de nata in Lisbon are a dime a dozen—however I encourage to vary.
If you wish to dive into the story and specifics of this sugary deal with, you’ve come to the appropriate place. As soon as you realize their historical past and cultural significance, you’ll suppose twice about greedily gobbling them up in two bites. For those who ask me, a confection as symbolic and storied as this one deserves to be savored.
What Are Pastéis de Nata?
Pastéis de nata are a standard Portuguese pastry that may finest be described as a sort of egg tart or custard tart. They give the impression of being a bit like little nests, with a thick outer layer of flaky pastry dough and a filling of wealthy yellow custard.
The highest of the custard is caramelized, with darkish brown or black spots and a barely totally different texture than the filling beneath it. Indubitably, this is without doubt one of the must-try meals in Lisbon—particularly if you happen to love sweets.
The time period pastéis de nata is Portuguese for “cream pastries.” Pastéis is the plural type of the phrase for pastry. So if you happen to hear or see pastel de nata as a substitute, it’s merely referring to 1 custard tart as a substitute of a number of.
What Are Pastéis de Belém?
Pastéis de nata are generally additionally known as pastéis de Belém. However what is the distinction, and why the 2 names?
All of it comes all the way down to time and place. Essentially the most well-known place to eat pastéis de nata in Lisbon is the district of Santa Maria de Belém, and particularly the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém.
Some would possibly argue that the pastries you get on the Fábrica are in a category of their very own, and due to this fact the 2 names consult with various things.
However the easiest clarification is that pastéis de nata is the generic time period, whereas pastéis de Belém has develop into in style as a result of status of this explicit pastry store. Though the latter technically refers back to the ones made right here, it is usually used to speak about Portuguese custard tarts basically.
The place Do Pastéis de Nata Come From?
There’s one more reason why pastéis de nata are generally known as pastéis de Belém: they have been invented—or not less than perfected—on this space of Lisbon.
The monks on the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém have been the primary to make and distribute the long-lasting custard tarts. They used egg whites to starch clothes and materials, creating an extra of leftover yolks. As an alternative of losing them, they usually used them to make muffins and pastries.
After the Liberal Revolution of 1820, the monks have been confronted with an issue. Non secular establishments all through Portugal now not had funding and have been shutting down. To usher in some additional money, they began promoting custard tarts to the general public.
Finally, the monastery closed anyway, at which level the monks bought the recipe to the native sugar refinery. Sensing the gold mine they’d on their fingers, the refinery’s homeowners opened the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém in 1837… and the remainder is historical past.
How Do You Make Pastéis de Nata?
Pastéis de nata are actually a easy pleasure: buttery pastry, creamy custard, and never a lot else. Nonetheless, it takes way more effort and experience than one would possibly anticipate to attain the perfect Portuguese custard tart.
Crafting the Good Crust
Initially, there’s the dough that types the pastry crust. For those who’ve ever tried to make your individual pastries, you know the way delicate this course of might be. After mixing the substances, you need to work the dough into the appropriate consistency, including butter as you go to create the right texture.
This takes some time, and there aren’t any shortcuts if you wish to find yourself with the actual factor. Novice cooks (myself included) could be tempted to make use of store-bought pastry dough, however the consequence—whereas nonetheless scrumptious—gained’t be practically as spectacular or genuine.
See Additionally: Take a look at our assortment of simple and genuine Portuguese recipes!
Concocting the Creamiest Custard
After perfecting the dough, it’s time to make the filling. This includes mixing collectively a couple of important substances: flour, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and—after all—egg yolks.
However don’t suppose you possibly can simply throw all of it in a mixing bowl, whisk it up, and name it a day. Creating custard that’s each creamy and lightweight is a fragile course of, involving cautious heating and timing.
Subsequent you may have to assemble and bake the tarts. That is the place the magic occurs: the filling thickens, the crust will get crispy, and people distinctive golden brown spots seem on the highest of the custard.
As soon as they’re out of the oven, mud them liberally with cinnamon and/or powdered sugar. And similar to that, the star of Lisbon’s bakeries is born.
Attempt it at dwelling: Get David’s scrumptious pastel de nata recipe right here!
The place to Eat Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon
Nearly each restaurant, café, and bakery in Lisbon—and the remainder of Portugal, for that matter—serves this native delicacy. However not all custard tarts are created equal.
All of these sophisticated steps I simply listed make room for loads of variation. In consequence, the query of who has the very best pastéis de nata in Lisbon is an advanced one.
There are the apparent frontrunners, together with the aforementioned Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém. They’ve their very own secret recipe (handed down from the monks who created it), and hoards of vacationers line up on daily basis to attempt the well-known specialty.
I can inform you from private expertise that the custard tarts right here positively have their very own distinctive texture, with a thinner and crispier crust. However they are not essentially higher or worse than those I’ve had elsewhere; it’s a matter of private desire.
Past Belém, there are many different pastelarias which are effectively value a go to. Manteigaria is a traditional, and my private favourite spot for these pastries. Different in style chains embody Aloma and Fábrica da Nata.
Extra conventional Portuguese cafés with improbable pastéis de nata in Lisbon embody Confeitaria Nacional and Pastelaria Santo António. And naturally, if you happen to see a window show that appears notably tempting, it is by no means a foul concept to attempt someplace new.
For the egg-free and dairy-free diners amongst us, it might appear to be pastéis de nata are hopelessly out of attain. Fortuitously, there’s the aptly named Vegan Nata, which sells a vegan model that is about as shut as you may get to the traditional custard tart!
See Additionally: The place to Eat in Lisbon – The Final Information
Tips on how to Get pleasure from Portuguese Custard Tarts as A lot as Attainable
It’s simple to get caught up in a seek for the easiest pastéis de nata in Lisbon; and if you happen to’re up for it, I totally help that mission. However fortunately for you—and the remainder of us—these delicacies infrequently disappoint.
The reality is that irrespective of the place you purchase them, they will most likely be scrumptious regardless of their variations. For my part, what issues most is that you just take pleasure in them heat and freshly baked if attainable!
With that in thoughts, I counsel that you just pattern them at each alternative, whatever the relative status of every pastry store. For breakfast, after lunch, as a day snack… it’s at all times a superb time for a pastel de nata.
And now that you realize the historical past of pastéis de nata in Lisbon—plus their composition and preparation—every chunk will style that a lot better.
Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon FAQs
A pastel de nata (the singular type of pastéis de nata) is a custard tart made with egg yolks, sugar, and a flaky pastry crust. It is essentially the most iconic pastry in Portugal, and might be discovered throughout Lisbon and the remainder of the nation.
The enduring custard tarts that you will discover throughout Lisbon are known as pastéis de nata in Portuguese (actually that means “cream pastries”). They’re generally additionally known as pastéis de Belém.
That is up for debate! The 2 most well-known spots are Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém (which has the unique recipe) and Manteigaria (my private favourite). However in actuality, you may get unbelievable custard tarts at any variety of bakeries in Lisbon!
Heading to Portugal? Do not miss our 5* Lisbon meals and strolling excursions! On the lookout for Spanish recipes? Obtain our free substances information and get a weekly recipe despatched on to your inbox.
