Perfect with coffee or a glass of Port, buttery, crispy custard bites, Pastel de Nata, from Portugal are a dream to make and eat.
By Michelle M. Winner
Traveling on a Viking River Cruise called the “River Of Gold” recently, we cruised from Porto into the regions along the Douro River known for growing the grapes of the famous Portuguese Port. Each day we were treated to pastries. These Portuguese delights from a “secret” recipe originally created by an 18th century religious order in a Lisbon monastery ( yes those!) have a tender, flaky crust filled with a creamy egg custard filling. 
Late in the cruise, the ship’s Executive Chef Pedro Ribeiro did a demo on how to make these Pastel de Nata and won our hearts. Chef Pedro, as he is known onboard, graciously shared this recipe and some tips for success. Don’t be put off; if you can make a custard you can make these. And every bite is worth it! Perfect with coffee, tea or equally famous Douro Port wine.
PrintPastel de Nata From Viking Cruises Executive Chef Ribeiro
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Viking Cruise’s Executive Chef Ribeiro’s flaky pastry crust holds a puddle of creamy yellow egg custard, perfect for afternoon tea, coffee or a glass of Port.
Ingredients
- 1 packet frozen puff pastry thawed according to package instructions
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon cake flour
- 7 oz granulated sugar
- 1/2 vanilla bean (seeds intact) or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 egg yolks
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin tin.
- Lay out the pastry on a flt sheet pan and roll from the shorter edge one turn.
- Cut about a 2” piece of pastry and work it into the bottom and up the sides of each cup of the muffin tin. TIP: wet your finger to push up the dough evenly.
- In a saucepan, combine milk, cake flour, sugar, and vanilla.
- Cook, stirring constantly with a whist until mixture thickens.
- Place egg yolks in a medium bowl.
- Whisk together.
- Slowly whisk HALF of hot milk mixture into yolks.
- Gradually add yolk mixture back into the remaining half of hot milk whisking constantly.
- Cook stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until thickened.
- Remove the vanilla bean.
- Fill pastry-lined muffin tins with mixture and bake for 20 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is lightly browned on top.
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Portuguese
He takes hold of the short edge and with his two hands, one on each side of the pastry, rolls the pastry up towards the other short end, one turn. Then cut the turned pastry from the entire sheet in one long strip. Cut that strip into 2″ pieces, enough for on Pastel de Nata each. I watched him do this, but I agree his directions need clarification.
When looking at a sheet of pastry you will notice that it is rectangular in shape. That is it has two long edges and two shorter ( length) edges. Chef refers to shorter at top and longer edges on sides. Thanks for the question!
What does it mean roll from shorter edge “one turn”? Would like to make these but the directions are not clear.