Portuguese Custard Tarts

Portuguese Custard Tarts

Showing the texture of the custard

I really enjoy watching food programmes on television to utter dismay of my family at times! I find food programmes can be an inspiration to try something different or even a base for creating ideas to try out. Anyway I digress, Bill Granger’s programme is airing on BBC 1 on a Saturday morning here in the U.K. at present. Bill came up with a recipe for Portuguese Custard Tarts, which took my attention like a rabbit caught in headlights *giggle*. I knew I had to try these little beauties out having never eaten one before! All that is need to make them is, some butter puff pastry with a simple filling of egg yolks, caster sugar, cornflour, double cream, milk and a little vanilla extract, which makes 12 sized muffin tarts. I used a pastry ring cutter to cut my pastry out as I found this to be the exact size for my muffin tin holes but authentically you just roll the pastry and lay each round in the muffin tin holes. The only adaptation I made to this recipe was, to sprinkle icing sugar over the custard filling five minutes before the end of baking time to enhance a golden colour of the custard.

I can now tell you that these little innocent looking custards are dangerously more-ish so be warned if you happen also to bake up a batch! The pastry has a beautiful crisp texture and the custard is of a sweet smooth lushness. I know these little beauties will be making an appearance many more times in my household.

If you would like to make some of Bill Granger’s Portuguese Custard Tarts here is the [link] for them.