LISBON | PASTÉIS DE NATA

LISBON | PASTÉIS DE NATA

Pastéis de Nata_LISBON_PORTUGAL

When in Lisbon, one must eat pastéis de nata. It’s a two bite tartlet filled with creamy custard, and I dare you to eat only one.

pastel de nata_lisbon_portugal

The pastéis de nata, also know as pastel de nata, is believed to have been first developed during the 18th century by Catholic nuns based in the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Convents and monasteries used egg whites for starching clothes (ie. nun’s habits) so they had a lot of leftover egg yolks. Waste not, want not—so they baked with them. And what’s the main ingredient in custard?

Yup, egg yolks.

I don’t have to tell you where to get them, because they are everywhere. They even sell them at Starbucks. Pastéis de nata are to Portugal what apple pie is to America, as in “as American as…”

They are iconic.

And they are DELICIOUS. I mean what’s not to love about a buttery, flaky pastry nest filled with warm custard?

(While you’re at it, try one of the tiny sugared donuts they also fill with custard! Obviously, I did.)

pasteis de nata_lisbon_portugal

[If you can’t get to Portugal, and you’re dying to try one, or you just want to see how they are made, here’s a recipe.]

There is 1 comment for this article
  1. Pete at 11:06 am

    For anyone near Bridgeport, CT there’s a great place called Chaves Bakery that makes these. The Portuguese restaurant Omanel’s in Bridgeport is great too!

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