The Portuguese Egg Tart is one of the most popular tea-time pastries to snack on in the world. Through this recipe guide, you will find our Top 5 Portuguese Egg Tart Recipes and generally, you will want to prepare these delicious recipes for your everyday baking.
Why People Love Portuguese Egg Tarts
There could be plenty of reasons why these puffed wonders are loved by many. You have a filling that is partially caramelized and has puffed up, darkened areas. And if you look closely with your keen eyes, you will see that the Portuguese egg tart’s crust layers form many concentric circles around its golden filling. Biting into a Portuguese egg tart is like having the best of both worlds where its filling is smooth and creamy while its crust is crispy and crunchy. Almost tasting reminiscent to that of a western custard, it is a little bit on the sweeter side but just has that satisfying taste that makes one go for another bite.
The history of Portuguese Egg Tarts
The Pastel de Nata, or Portuguese Egg Tarts as we know has a history that goes way back to 300 years, to Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, west of Lisbon. As of today, the same monastery remains a major tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Before it was known as such, it was a busy civil community where nuns and monks at that time, would starch their clothes using egg whites because there was no laundry detergent. That meant there were plenty of egg yolks left for them! Not wanting those egg yolks to go to waste, the monks decided to have them used as the main ingredient in desserts.
A Secret Recipe was soon born…
Soon enough, the monastery monks began to create a secret recipe that would bring their custard tarts to perfection. Those custard tarts would be sold as a means of providing funds to sustain their monastery. Yet, the monastery would close in 1834. But all wasn’t lost because that recipe was then sold to the owners of the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém, which opened in 1837, and is the most famous place to try custard tarts in all of Lisbon, Portugal.
The recipe remains a closely guarded secret, and the tarts sold in this location are known as Pastéis de Belém. Just a three-minute walk from the monastery, they are a must try for anyone keen for a little bite of Portuguese history.
But hey, that is not just the only interesting bit! Because you see…
From Portugal to the World
Long before Portuguese egg tarts were invented, the Portuguese had already been traveling and trading in China since 1513. From 1557 to 1999, Macau became a Portuguese colony. Within those masses of years, the Portuguese imparted their culture, which includes their cuisine. The ever-popular Lord Stow’s Bakery is one of the well-known examples of Portuguese culinary; the bakery has been making a hybrid of Portuguese egg muffins and English custard tart with its own pastry strategies and the heavier custard filling!
So, what makes a perfect Portuguese Egg Tart?
You will find these egg custard tarts in pretty much every bakery in Portugal. And, while tons of bakeries around the globe have their own variations of Portuguese egg tarts, we can all agree that the first of its kind was made in its humble beginnings. If you have been lucky enough to catch a flight to Portugal, having a Portuguese egg tart would be something incredibly memorable.
Rich’s Portuguese Egg Tart Topping
But we know not everyone has the means to travel. In fact, with many countries making their own Portuguese egg tarts, Rich Products Malaysia has their very own Rich’s Portuguese Egg Tart Topping which lets you make your own Portuguese Egg Tarts.
For a simple and delicious Portuguese Egg Tart, we offer you a ready-to-use egg tart mixture that proves to be a one-stop Portuguese Egg Tart solution where you can skip the hassle of preparing the tarts from scratch. You can expect a mouthful of flaky pastry, complemented with sweet custardy deliciousness. To learn how to make the classic Portuguese Egg Tarts and some other extras, this article might pique your interest.
Our Top 5 Portuguese Egg Tart Recipes
As much as everyone loves the good old basic Portuguese Egg Tart, it does not hurt to improvise it. In fact, there are so many ways you can spice up such a humble tart with its flaky tart shell. These quick and easy Portuguese Egg Tart varieties are here to change up your routine!
Satay Chicken Tart
Try our Chef’s rendition of an open-faced satay chicken tart. Generously portioned in a pandan tart shell, this Satay Chicken Tart makes for a great appetizer to a start of a meal or you know, a nicely spiced snack for tea-time. In less than 30 minutes, you have a stunner of a dish to serve your friends and family. Enjoy!
Sambal Belacan Ikan Bilis Tart
The Sambal Belacan Ikan Bilis (Anchovy Sambal Belacan) is a thick, chilli paste condiment that has a depth of flavor and is extremely flavorsome with a good kick of spice and heat. Most enjoyed with Nasi Lemak, or even plain rice, our Chefs thought it would be fun to mix it up in a tart. Whip up this savory Sambal Belacan Ikan Bilis Tart in just 20 minutes. The balance of the mashed potato on top and sweet spicy sambal makes this super satisfying!
Curry Chicken Tart
This recipe has always been one of our favorites! Each time you cook the curry chicken, extra chicken cubes has also got to be cooked simply because you would want to sneak a bite of it before you even assemble the curry chicken into the tart! The spices and aromatics that make this dish blends well with the chicken meat, enriching the aroma making you crave more. Go on and make this Curry Chicken Tart then!
Salted Egg Tart
These classic salted egg yolk flavors work on so well in Portuguese egg tarts… Try them with our topping and you will not be disappointed. Quick and easy to prepare too, whether you are packing these Salted Egg Tarts up for work or grabbing a bite at home, we would always recommend you to bring extras because people would ask to taste one. It is especially good with a nice cup of coffee—one of those ways to de-stress yourself.
Mushroom Quiche
We wanted a good mushroom tart recipe to be prepared in less than 30 minutes. So, a simple Mushroom Quiche dish with just a few ingredients, but the outcome is perfect and delicious. The earthiness of the mushroom medley, the fragrance of fried onion with butter and thyme will make you satisfied. This tempting recipe is comforting and hearty. It is also a succulent showcase for mushrooms in their glory. We know your family will enjoy this as much as we do!
We hope you try out these recipes!
Whether you are a novice baker or have a whole baking repertoire, we feel that these 5 Portuguese Egg Tart recipes (with each their own twist) are the perfect good vibe to add to your baking and cooking list.
You never have to ask some twice to make delicious flaky Portuguese egg tarts! Some people will take any excuse to whip up a batch of these golden pastries, whether it is sweet or savory to share with their friends. We have created this list of various Portuguese Egg Tart recipes that will be the perfect addition to your stress-free baking sessions! But do not just take our word for it without trying our recipes, because hey, you must make them yourself to believe it! So, you might want to add some items to your cart and get shopping for your next baking session. Let it roll!
