Traditional Portuguese desserts: Pasteis de nata

-

Pastel de nata (Portuguese custard tart)


The "Pastel de Nata" is the most iconic typical pastry from Portuguese cuisine. It's a creamy custard tart available in all the bakeries in Portugal. It can be eaten at breakfast, after lunch, or the evening, any time you're craving a snack. They're also called "Pastéis de Belém" (pastries of Belem).

History

The pastry was created in the 19th century in Belem, near the Jeronimos Monastery, where was located a small sugar cane refinery attached to a small general store. As a result of the 1820 liberal revolution, all the convents and monasteries were shut down in 1834. The clergy and labourers were expelled.
In an attempt at survival, someone from the monastery offered sweet pastries in the shop. These pastries became known as "Pastéis de Belém" (Pastries of Belem).
At that time, the area of Belem was considered far from Lisbon and was mainly accessed by steam-boats. However, the sumptuousness of the Jeronimos Monastery and the Tower of Belem, attracted visitors who grew used to savouring the delicious pastries originated in the monastery.

Jeronimos Monastery
Tower of Belem
                 



In 1837, the baking of the "Pastéis de Belem" began in the buildings attached to the refinery, following the ancient "secret recipe" from the monastery. Passed on and known exclusively to the masters confectioners who hand-crafted the pastries in the "secret room".
This recipe remains unchanged to the present day. Nowadays, all the coffee shops and bakeries in Portugal have the "Pastel de Nata", but the "Fabrica dos Pastéis de Belém" is the only place where you can buy the true "Pastéis de Nata".



Fabrica dos Pasteis de Belém





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Traditional Portuguese desserts: Bolas de Berlim

-
Image
Bolas de Berlim (Berliner) Bola de Berlim, also known as a Berliner, is a Portuguese version of a doughnut. It's a very popular Portuguese summer pastry, which historically originates in Germany. Bola de Berlim is typically bigger than its German counterpart, and is filled with an egg-based cream (creme pasteleiro, known as confectioner's cream in English) which the Portuguese use in many of their desserts. This is the difference from Germany where Berliners are filled with a variety of jams and icing. In Portugal, they're also called "Sonhos de padaria" which means "Bakery dreams". It's like a doughnut sliced into halves. They are made with sweet dough fried in oil, with some powdered sugar icing on top. It's a staple dessert in Portugal. They're also very popular in the beaches. It's the best selling dessert in many beaches in Portugal. In summer, vendors literally walk around the beaches holding containers filled with ...
Read more

Traditional Portuguese desserts: Ovos moles de Aveiro

-
Image
Ovos moles de Aveiro (soft eggs de Aveiro)        These are a typical pastry in the area of Aveiro. They are made of a delicious sweet egg yolk paste, wrapped in a wafer-thin pastry shaped like oysters, clams or fish, as a tribute to the maritime traditions of the region. Its shape is obtained by mixing eggs and sugar indulgently, and it is prepared according to traditional knowledge.         The ovos moles come from the ancient feminine convents in Aveiro. After the nuns communities were extinguished, the recipe passed on from generation to generation and it has been kept alive until today.        In addition to its strong taste, their shape makes them a truly peculiar pastry. Confectioners were inspired by their closeness to the lagoon and sea elements to transform with their fingers, thin layers  into shells, whelks, fish or clams, and fill them with this golden voluptuous dough.    ...
Read more

Traditional Portuguese desserts: Toucinho Do Céu

-
Image
Toucinho Do Céu        Toucinho Do Céu, translated literally as "Bacon from Heaven", is a delicious Portuguese almond cake, originating in the Guimarães region of Portugal. It is translated as Bacon from Heaven for two reasons. First, because it uses pork lard to make the cake and secondly, because it is unbelievably delicious. It is one of the most popular and traditional Portuguese dessert, typically seen at many restaurants, and any festivals or events. This is because of its unbelievable flavor coming from such simplicity, making it an integral Portuguese dessert making.        Most Portuguese desserts use egg yolk and sugar. Why mostly egg yolks? It's because the egg whites are used to clarify wine (like a filter), acting like a brush to sweep out impurities. The wine makers, in the local region, would save the yolks and give them to the nuns at the convents, who make desserts, which were sold, to raise money for the poor. ...
Read more