Portuguese · dessert

Pastéis de Nata

Pastéis de Nata reads richness 7.2, sweetness 6.7 and citrus 4.2 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Portuguese dessert, about 1 hr. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 4.2 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 7.2 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 4.6 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 0.6 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 7.5 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 3.6 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 7.2 · Sweetness 6.7 · Citrus 4.2 · Umami 4.1 · Floral 3.4 · Warm Spice 2.4 · Fruity 1.4 · Sourness 1.3 · Nutty 1.1 · Herbaceous 0.8 · Salinity 0.7 · Bitterness 0.6

What's in it (11)

• 12 oz puff pastry
• 6 egg yolks
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tbsp icing sugar

Time & effort: about 1 hr (20 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 349.9 kcal, 14 g protein, 10.8 g fat, 49.1 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

1. Make custard by cooking milk, cream, sugar, flour, lemon zest, and cinnamon stick into a thick sauce, then temper in egg yolks and vanilla.
2. Line small tart tins with thin rounds of puff pastry pressed carefully up the sides.
3. Fill with custard to just below the rim and bake at the highest oven temperature (230-250C) for 12-15 minutes until the custard is scorched and blistered.
4. Serve warm dusted with cinnamon.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Natilla (Cuban Custard) — Cuban
• Ovos Moles de Aveiro — Portuguese
• Crema Catalana — Spanish
• Arroz Doce — Portuguese
• Leche Frita — Spanish

Keep reading: what richness, sweetness, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.