Giant Custard Tart (Tarte de Pastel de Nata)

The Pastel de Nata, or custard tart, is one of the most famous Portuguese treats. Made famous by the Pastéis de Bélem in Lisbon, these delightful pastries have captured the hearts and taste buds of people worldwide. While the original recipe is top secret, several variations of the recipe have emerged. I was recently introduced to a large custard tart resembling a giant pastel de nata.

This recipe is fairly easy to make especially if you are like me and keep puff pastry sheets handy in your freezer. Now, the most difficult part throughout the process is:

1. Preventing the tart from burning if you use the grill to achieve a caramelized top.
2. Resisting the temptation to devour the entire tart in one sitting.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• 300 grams (about 1 1/2 cups) of sugar
• 1 1/4 cup (300ml) of water
• 1 lemon peel (not the entire lemon)
• 2 1/2 cups (600ml) of milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 Tbsp of corn starch

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Butter the tart pan.
3. Roll out the puff pastry, and place it in the buttered tart pan.
4. Use a fork to prick the bottom of the puff pastry three times. Set aside.
5. In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and lemon peel. Bring the mixture to a boil for approximately 3 minutes. Remove lemon peel.
6. In a separate saucepan, combine milk, egg yolks, and cornstarch. Stir constantly over low heat until the mixture thickens into a creamy consistency.
7. Slowly add the hot sugar syrup (without the lemon peel) to the custard mixture, stirring continuously to ensure a smooth blend.
8. Return the saucepan to the stove and cook the mixture over low heat until it has thickened further. If you notice any lumps, you can use a hand blender to smooth it out.
9. Pour the creamy custard mixture into the prepared tart shell.
10. Place the tart in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the top is golden and the filling is set.
11. Optional: If you prefer a darker, caramelized top, switch your oven to the grill setting for the last few minutes of baking. Keep a close eye on the tart to prevent it from burning.
12. Allow the tart to cool and enjoy!

This giant custard tart is perfect for sharing with friends and family!

Enjoy,

Margaret

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