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I have a deeply held belief that after an appointment it's a great idea to treat yo' self! You've probably been a bit stressed, nervous, or even excited for said appointment. You may have done a lot of prep work before hand and said more than a few extra prayers. The day comes. You show up, parking in this adorable town is a nightmare, but you make it just in time! Phew. Now the appointment is over and you can breathe again.... Double Phew... Have you been there too? You also deserve a treat ;) Part of the series: Where to eat in Loule
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We love this chocolate pastry from Aldi in Portugal. It's a 5/5 for us. A great and super healthy reward for surviving the weekly grocery shopping trip. Jokes aside, the multi-grain element genuinely adds another layer of complexity to the flavor profile that we really enjoy. The nutella-but-thicker filling makes this entire pastry a bit heavy. You see, when you get half way through eating it, it's so delicious you want to finish it off. But once you finish it off you may feel like you ate just a bit too much. |
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SO! It's a perfect treat to split in two - one half for you and the other for a buddy or half for now and half for later!
And you should definitely enjoy it with a cafezinho (a little coffee, in cute-portuguese speak)
Aldi - please don't read this and make it smaller. That would be no bueno, er... mau. muito mau. Se faz favor, não faça isso. We like it how it is! Obrigada bjs. :) ❤
And you should definitely enjoy it with a cafezinho (a little coffee, in cute-portuguese speak)
Aldi - please don't read this and make it smaller. That would be no bueno, er... mau. muito mau. Se faz favor, não faça isso. We like it how it is! Obrigada bjs. :) ❤
How much is the multi-grain chocolate filled pastry at aldi in Portugal?
For the grocery cost-of-living in Portugal researchers, it's essential to know the cost of food staples like this.
The Espiga Multicereais Chocolate pastry is currently .99 euro cents in summer 2024 which is approximately $1.08 USD.
Not too shabby, eh?
The Espiga Multicereais Chocolate pastry is currently .99 euro cents in summer 2024 which is approximately $1.08 USD.
Not too shabby, eh?
Find Similar Content you'll enjoy in these folders:
Aldi • Grocery Reviews • Americans in Portugal • Expats in Portugal • Reviews • Pastries in Portugal
Our Delonghi Espresso Machine
Every great pastry not only deserves, but requires a great cafezinho.
We saved up for a Delonghi that was a nice balance between a solid espresso shot with some optional manual adjustments and the convenience of automation for busy days which, let's face it, is every day. If you're looking for a new espresso machine check out the Delonghi Magnifica on Amazon and compare the price to the Delonghi site to see who has the better sale price on Espresso Machines.
BTW. The cost of these machines is generally much cheaper in Europe than in the US. One of the few appliances where that is true - showing how culturally essential coffee is to the Portuguese people.
We saved up for a Delonghi that was a nice balance between a solid espresso shot with some optional manual adjustments and the convenience of automation for busy days which, let's face it, is every day. If you're looking for a new espresso machine check out the Delonghi Magnifica on Amazon and compare the price to the Delonghi site to see who has the better sale price on Espresso Machines.
BTW. The cost of these machines is generally much cheaper in Europe than in the US. One of the few appliances where that is true - showing how culturally essential coffee is to the Portuguese people.
In the Summer of 2018 we had a special opportunity to visit friends and get a taste of a wonderful place - Portugal! No list of "top foods to try in Portugal" is complete without the glorious little Portuguese custard tart known as Pastel de Nata!
originally post date 11/12/20
Our first Pastéis de Nata came from Portela Cafe on Rua da Graça in Lisbon. It was a short stroll from our airbnb and we wanted to get our Portugal trip off to a good start with cafe and pastries for breakfast! ;)
From there we enjoyed Pastéis de Nata just about everywhere we went - Lisbon, up the Silver Coast, Porto, and even the airport lounge on the way home.
So what exactly is a Pastel de Nata?
Pastéis de Nata are a delightful little treat consisting of a flaky crust filled with custard. Most people enjoy their Pastéis de Nata with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top! Some people prefer just cinnamon or just powdered sugar while others enjoy a Pastel de Nata as is!
How do you eat a Pastel de Nata?
Easy. Just take a bite for optimal enjoyment of the creamy custard together with the crispy crust. There is a segment of society, however, who prefer to use a spoon to eat the custard first and then eat the crust. Posh. ;p No matter how you eat your pastel de nata, it's going to be delicious!
Portugal Travel Blog:
History of Pastel de Nata
The popular origin story of the Pastel de Nata goes back over 300 years ago to Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. The nuns and monks used egg whites to starch the clothing, leaving a huge amount of egg yolks needing used up. To prevent waste and simultaneously generate income to support the monetary, the custard tart was born. The recipe was later sold when the monastery closed in 1833. Today you can try the original Portuguese custard tart at Pastéis de Belém.
Wait. I'm Confused. Is it Pastéis de Nata, Pastel de Nata or Pastéis de Belém?
Pastel de Nata - one Portuguese custard tart
Pastéis de Nata - multiple Portuguese custard tarts
Pastéis de Belém - Portuguese custard tarts made from the original secret recipe.
The original Pastéis de Belém is only available at Fábrica Pastéis de Belém
It makes me think of how some people say Kleenex any time they mean "tissue" whether it's Kleenex brand or not. Technically, a Kleenex is a tissue, but all tissues are not Kleenex. So all Pastéis de Belém are Pastéis de Nata (albiet branded with the perception of superiority), but not all Pastéis de Nata are Pastéis de Belém. Hope I got that right and hope it makes more sense now!
Pastéis de Nata - multiple Portuguese custard tarts
Pastéis de Belém - Portuguese custard tarts made from the original secret recipe.
The original Pastéis de Belém is only available at Fábrica Pastéis de Belém
It makes me think of how some people say Kleenex any time they mean "tissue" whether it's Kleenex brand or not. Technically, a Kleenex is a tissue, but all tissues are not Kleenex. So all Pastéis de Belém are Pastéis de Nata (albiet branded with the perception of superiority), but not all Pastéis de Nata are Pastéis de Belém. Hope I got that right and hope it makes more sense now!
One last Pastel de Nata in Porto, Portugal
Flash Forward to December 2018 and we were already in withdrawal! On a weekend trip to Toronto we looked up Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market so we could relieve the custard tart experience
Pastéis de Nata from Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market Toronto, Canada | Traveling Through Food
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Pastéis de Nata from Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market Toronto, Canada | Traveling Through Food
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Flash Forward to summer 2019 when family brought back some Pastéis de Nata after attending the Love Never Fails International Convention in Lisbon! And later when we sought out Azores Cafe in Pittsburgh so we could have some more Nata.
Basically, it was high time we tried to make Pastéis de Nata at home...
A Pastel de Nata has two main elements to master:
Which begs the question....
- Flaky Crust
- Creamy Custard
Which begs the question....
Can you make Pastéis De Nata with frozen puff pastry?
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The answer is yes! If you don't want to go through the effort of making your own puff pastry, you can definitely take the short cut and use frozen puff pastry. I used Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets and it worked like a dream. In the future, I would like to do it 100% from scratch, but it's nice to lower the barrier of entry. ANYONE can make this!
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How To Make Pastéis de Nata Custard Step-by-step
I followed LeitesCulinaria's recipe found here
- Whisk 3 tablespoons of flour with 1/4 cup of milk until smooth
- Bring 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2/3 cup of water to boil. Do not stir this, but let it boil until 220F or 100C
- Scald 1 cup of milk (237ml) in a separate small sauce pan. Whisk scalded milk into the milk/flour mixture.
- Take the cinnamon stick out from the syrup and pour it into the milk/flour mixture, whisking the whole time. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla.
- Whisk the yolks from 6 large eggs in a bowl. Then whisk them into the milk/flour/syrup mixture.
- Strain this thin mixture into a bowl.
How long will Pastéis de Nata uncooked custard mixture last?
Uncooked custard mixture can last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days according to LeitesCulinaria.
At what temperature does milk scald? Why do you scald milk
Milk scalds once it is heated above 180F or 83C. Scalding milk can kill bacteria and enzymes that may interfere with thickening in recipes. (sources here and here)
Tips for using Frozen Puff Pastry to Make Pastéis de Nata
You will want to take the pastry out of the freezer well in advance.
How long does it take for frozen puff pastry to defrost/thaw from frozen?
In general, thaw at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
It's important to let the pastry thaw or else you will break it when you try unroll it from the package.
Once the pastry is thawed, you are going to lay it flat on your work space (I used this large cutting board) and then roll it tightly into a log. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate until you are ready to assembly your Portuguese custard tarts!
See this CupcakeJemma video below for the technique:
How long does it take for frozen puff pastry to defrost/thaw from frozen?
In general, thaw at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
It's important to let the pastry thaw or else you will break it when you try unroll it from the package.
Once the pastry is thawed, you are going to lay it flat on your work space (I used this large cutting board) and then roll it tightly into a log. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate until you are ready to assembly your Portuguese custard tarts!
See this CupcakeJemma video below for the technique:
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Assembling Pastéis de Nata
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Making Pastéis de Nata with Frozen Puff Pastry | Traveling Through Food
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The final product was quite adorable and delicious! This one has a very light dusting of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top.
Mini Pastel de Nata made with Frozen Puff Pastry | Traveling Through Food
I also tried to make them in normal sized cupcake tins, but I filled them up too high, causing the custard to run down the side and caramelize way before the pastry was fully cooked. You can tell below that the pastry at the bottom is still soft. I definitely recommend taking seriously the recommendation to fill just 3/4 full!
Tip: Fill 3/4 full with custard to prevent overflowing, over caramelization, and undercooked pastry
When do you eat a Pastel de Nata?
According to Eater, "locals eat Pastéis de Nata at breakfast, in the midmorning, after lunch, or in the evening — any time they're craving a snack"
Should you eat Portuguese custard tarts hot or cold?
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There's no wrong way! Some people love them warm, others like the texture of the custard better when it is at room temperature. Still others like them cold! The only way to decide is to try them all three ways, don't you agree? ;-)
Do Pastéis de Nata need refrigerated?
In most instances, there won't be any left over since they are so tasty! But on the off chance that you do have left overs it is recommended that you store them in the fridge.
How do you reheat Pasteis de Nata?
Reheating a pastry like this is best done in an oven or toaster oven over a microwave, for sure. 350F around 7 minutes should do the job!
How long do Pasteis de Natas last?
In an airtight box they may last up to 2 days. If refrigerated around 5 days. But seriously, just eat them today. :)
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Is there lemon in Pastéis de Nata?
Although this particular recipe did not call for it, many recipes do infuse lemon flavor into the simple syrup by adding lemon rind to the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick! I will definitely try this next time because I love a bit of lemon in a custard.
Tools That Make It Easier To Make Pastéis de Nata at Home:
For That Friend Who is Obsessed With Pastéis de Nata:
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Tried This Recipe?
Send us a photo, tag us @travelingthroughfoodtogether, or leave a comment below! We'd love to try your favorite recipes or hear about foods you discovered while traveling! Submit a recipe or food story to Traveling Through Food |
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Mourapão will always hold a special place in our hearts as it's the first place we ate after arriving in Portugal on the D7 visa.
Filed Under: Vilamoura Restaurant Reviews • Algarve Restaurant Reviews • Portugal • Restaurant Review
After those hectic final weeks waiting for the visa to arrive, selling belongings, hoping nothing important was forgotten, visiting with family, traveling and moving internationally for the first time (& during a pandemic!), handling canceled flights etc.... to finally arrive in Vilamoura was surreal. Nothing felt more simultaneously comforting and rewarding than the prospect of a pizza and a pastel de nata at the same time.
Enter Mourapão.
Um café e uma tigelada em Mourapão
Located in Vilamoura near the Marina, Mourapão is a short walk from the secret apartment.
With indoor and outdoor seating available as well as an extensive menu, mourapão can cater to just about any guest.
Bonus, it's open until at least 10pm!
Here's what we have tried:
With indoor and outdoor seating available as well as an extensive menu, mourapão can cater to just about any guest.
Bonus, it's open until at least 10pm!
Here's what we have tried:
Tigelada
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Tigelada is a traditional Portuguese dessert made with eggs, milk, and sugar. Typically baked in a wood fired oven inside a Portuguese ceramic bowl, this sweet dessert is all about the texture as shown in the photo above.
Pastel de Nata
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Pastel de Nata is easily the most popular pastry you must try in Portugal with its flakey crust, pudding like custard filling and optional cinnamon topping. Remember when we made Pasteis de nata at home?
Margherita Pizza
For an optimal experience, be sure to dine in at Mourapao and enjoy classic pizza made with fresh ingredients.
(Although you can get take out or pizza delivery in Vilamoura through apps like Glovo fyi) Take a look at that pizza slice - the cheese pull, the browning, the sheen... If this pizza is for you, you will know it. ;)
Discover more Pizza in Portugal here
(Although you can get take out or pizza delivery in Vilamoura through apps like Glovo fyi) Take a look at that pizza slice - the cheese pull, the browning, the sheen... If this pizza is for you, you will know it. ;)
Discover more Pizza in Portugal here
Pizza in Portugal.
original post 7/14/22
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Best Places To Stay in Vilamoura, Algarve Portugal
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Algarve Restaurant Reviews
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