Portuguese Coconut Custard Tarts Recipes

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (PASTEIS DE NATA)

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and cold water in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dough should be sticky; adjust with more flour or water to achieve what's shown in the video.
• Transfer dough onto a well floured surface. Dust a little more flour over the top. Knead for a minute or two to form a round. Cover and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour as necessary; dough should still be sticky.
• Spread 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the square using a silicone spatula, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Flip the unbuttered side over the middle of the square and fold the opposite end over it like a letter. Straighten the edges as needed.
• Turn dough with a bench scraper to unstick it from the counter; dust with flour. Flip and sprinkle more flour on top. Roll dough into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle, carefully stretching edges as needed. Spread another 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the dough. Fold into thirds. Transfer onto a lined baking sheet and freeze until butter is slightly chilled, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle dough with flour and roll into a square a little over 1/8 inch thick. Spread remaining butter over the dough, leaving a 1- to 1 1/2-inch border on the top edge. Dip your finger in water and lightly moisten the unbuttered edge. Roll dough into a log starting from the bottom edge. Dust with more flour and polish the ends as needed. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
• Combine sugar, 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, cinnamon, and lemon zest in a pot. Boil over medium heat, without stirring, until syrup reaches 210 to 215 degrees F (100 degrees C). Remove from heat.
• Preheat oven 550 degrees F (288 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Whisk flour, salt, and cold milk together very thoroughly in a cold pot. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks into the cooled milk. Add the sugar syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Strain custard into a glass measuring cup.
• Unwrap the dough and trim any uneven bits on the ends. Score log into 12 even pieces using a knife; cut through.
• Place a piece of dough in each muffin cup. Dip your thumb lightly in some cold water. Press thumb into the center of the swirl; push dough against the bottom and up the sides of the cup until it reaches least 1/8 inch past the top. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with custard.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is browned and bubbly, and the tops start to blister and caramelize, about 12 minutes. Cool tarts briefly and serve warm.

PORTUGUESE COCONUT CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 1/4 cup milk.
• In a food processor, shred the coconut flakes for 30 seconds.
• In a large bowl, stir the eggs and sugar together with a wooden spoon. One by one, add the cornstarch mixture, the remaining milk, the coconut, melted butter, and lemon extract, stirring well after each addition.
• Ladle the custard into the paper cups, filling each 1/4 inch from the top. Make sure to stir the custard frequently to keep the coconut evenly distributed. You'll be able to fill 10 to 11 liners.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the coconut is nicely toasted. Cool completely in the muffin tin before serving. Originally published March 10, 1999.

PORTUGUESE COCONUT CAKES (BOLOS DE COCO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 3 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Mix coconut, sugar, eggs, and lemon zest together in a large bowl. Scoop coconut mixture into lined muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

PORTUGUESE COCONUT CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Adjust oven rack to middle position. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with 10 paper cupcake liners; set aside.
• 2. Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/4 cup milk.
• 3. In a food processor, shred the coconut for 30 seconds.
• 4. In a large bowl, stir the eggs and sugar together with a wooden spoon. One by one, add the cornstarch mixture, remaining 3/4 cup milk, coconut, melted butter, and lemon extract, stirring well after each addition.
• 5. Using a ladle or small measuring cup, ladle custard into the paper cups, filling each to 1/4 inch from the top. (Stir the custard frequently to keep coconut distributed.)
• 6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the coconut is lightly toasted. Cool and serve slightly warm, or let cool completely in the muffin tin, and serve later. They should puff up during baking, but they'll shrink down a bit once they start cooling.
• 7. They're marvelous as is (and my favorite way to enjoy these tarts!). But if you don't like the indentation on top after they cool, you can spoon a little jam or sliced fruit on top.

PORTUGUESE COCONUT CUSTARD TARTS - PASTéIS DE COCO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Adjust the rack to middle position. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with 10 paper cupcake liners.
• Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/4 cup of the milk. Set aside.
• In a food processor fitted with a metal blade chop the coconut flakes for 30 seconds, or chop well by hand.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir the eggs and sugar together with a wooden spoon. One by one, add the cornstarch mixture, remaining milk, coconut, melted butter and lemon and other extract, stirring well after each addition.
• Ladle the custard into the paper cups, filling to 1/4 inch from the top. (NOTE: Make sure to stir frequently to keep the coconut well distributed.)
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the coconut is nicely toasted. Cool completely in the tin before serving.

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• Grease muffin pans with margarine.
• Place the puff pastry over a table dusted with flour. Dust the pastry with a little more flour and roll out the pastry into a rectangle shape with a rolling pin. Roll the pastry from one end to the other and cut in round slices with 4 centimeters / (1 1/2 inches). Put the slices within the muffin pans and press the center of the pastry with fingers until fill completely the muffin pans, set aside.
• In a bowl, dissolve the corn starch in 50 ml / (3 1/3 tablespoons) milk.
• In a saucepan, pour the remaining milk, lemon peel, cinnamon stick, the dissolved corn starch and sugar. Stir and bring to low heat, stirring occasionally. When starts boiling, remove the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick (reserve both). Turn off the heat and add the egg yolks one by one, stirring constantly. Add the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick and place back over low heat until obtain a creamy mixture, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180ºC / (350ºF).
• Turn off the heat, remove the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick and pour the cream in the muffin pans. Bake for about 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven, unmold and let cool. Sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar and serve.