The Portuguese egg tart has been enjoyed by millions of people for hundreds of years. Read on trending recipes to learn how to make this very delicious dessert.
The right egg tart will change the way you look at dessert. Actually, most egg tarts will change the way you look at dessert. The Portuguese egg tart is no exception and if you don’t know what it is, hold on to your hat cause we’re about to blow your mind.
In this article, we will discuss how to make egg tarts by providing you with an egg tart recipe filled with the best egg tart ingredients. We even offer a little surprise for those that are either feeling lazy or maybe don’t possess any culinary talents. Continue reading if you want to up your dessert game (and why wouldn’t you?).
What Are Portuguese Egg Tarts?
What are Portuguese egg tarts? They’re heaven in a foil liner, and that’s something large parts of Europe, Asia, Indonesia, and, of course, Portugal all agree on.
They have a flaky cup-like crust (not that different from the crust of an Apple Strudel) and an eggy, custardy filling. The egg tart recipe varies by region, but most recipes are surprisingly easy to make. I mean, if we can do it, so can you.
How Are They Different From Regular Egg Tarts?
Egg tarts may not be a new concept to you, which is a relief since they are amazing. However, you may be wondering how a Portuguese egg tart is different from any other egg tart.
Well, first of all, Portuguese egg tarts are sweeter than other egg tarts. Plus, these tarts are usually caramelized at the top, which is why they have dark spots across the top. While we love all styles of egg tarts, the Portuguese egg tarts hold a special place in our hearts.
Where Did It All Start?
So, who do we have to thank for this perfectly palatable puff pastry tart? The Hieronymites Monastery in Lisbon. During the 18th century, they performed culinary experiments with leftover eggs and came up with something very weird and tasty.
The monks actually sold their Portuguese egg tarts to keep convents and monasteries open after the Liberal Revolution of 1820. So, not only are these tasty tarts, they’re hero tarts, too!
After the monastery closed 14 years later, the recipe was purchased by a local sugar refinery. This sugar factory eventually became a bakery called Pasteis de Belem, which is still open today. That means you can still try these old-school hero tarts if you want to.
How to Make Egg Tarts
You have 3 options when it comes to enjoying egg tarts: cook, assemble or buy. The good news is that any of these options can leave you with the egg tart of a lifetime if you know what you’re doing.
Our top recommendation is to learn how to make egg tarts at home…you know…the old-fashioned way. So, let’s start there.
Egg Tart Ingredients
If you’re not going to use premium egg tart ingredients, why even bother making them? Ok…they’re still worth making, but trust us, the right ingredients will make you cry happy tears.
Here’s what you need to make 20 tarts:
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup sugar, granulated
- Pinch of salt
- Zest of one lemon
- Rich’s Portuguese Egg Tart Shells
Egg Tart Recipe
- Preheat oven to 190°C
- Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl
- Slowly whisk in the milk and vanilla until combined
- Mix in salt and lemon zest
- Let sit for 30-45 minutes
- Fill tart shells 80 to 90% full
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until dark spots just start to form across the top
Using Premium Egg Tart Ingredients
Are you lazy and don’t want to bake? Good news! You can still enjoy a delicious Portuguese egg tart without all of that work.
Rich’s original and Pandan Portuguese Egg Tart Shells come pre-packaged and ready-to-bake. You can even get Rich’s Portuguese Egg Tart topping to fill them with.
All you have to do is thaw the topping, fill the shell to 80-90% with the topping, toss it in the oven or air fryer (a.k.a gently slide it into the oven because you’re not a heathen), and bake.
If you go the oven-route, bake at 230°C-245°C for 17-20 minutes. If you choose the air fryer (and why wouldn’t you?), then bake at 155°C for 25 minutes.
Delicious, easy, and you’ll still feel like you made these from scratch. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be clicking the 🛒‘add to cart’ button🛒 immediately after finishing this article.
Where to Buy Portuguese Egg Tarts
Is a grab, pour, and bake method still more work than you’re looking for? Well, even if you don’t want to buy egg tart ingredients online, you can still enjoy them. You may not get the pride of a job well done, but your stomach will be happy with you.
While some grocery stores have egg starts for sale, you can also buy them from specialty bakeries. We recommend the latter for the most authentic taste.
Get Out and Find an Egg Tart
How are you feeling about the egg tart? You should be feeling awed, maybe a little sad, but mostly hungry. These super popular tarts will change your life if you know how to make or find the right ones.
While we recommend being courageous and trying your hand at monastery-style cooking, you can also be lazy and still enjoy high-quality Portuguese egg tarts. The most important part is getting the right egg tart ingredients and then you’ll be living the good life.
Are you dying for more tasty recipes? Us too. Head to our Recipes page to find what else you’re missing out on.
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