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Cooking Class: Pastel de Nata–Portugal's Iconic Custard Tart with Maria Lima

Cooking Class: Pastel de Nata–Portugal's Iconic Custard Tart with Maria Lima


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Join us for a hands-on cooking class with chef Maria Lima from her home kitchen in Porto to learn how to make delicious Pastel de Nata, Portugal’s iconic custard tarts.
In this interactive seminar, we will discover the history behind this famous pastry while we learn how to bake our own. The recipe is simple but delicious, and we will enjoy the finished product paired with traditional port wine.
Pastel de Nata date back over 300 years, to their origins at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, a neighborhood of Lisbon. Monks created a secret recipe to perfect their custard tarts and called them Pastel de Belém. We will discover the differences between the two tarts - and learn why Pastel de Nata remain the iconic cake of Portugal.
Together with Maria Lima, a gastronomy expert and chef, we will learn how to prepare the flaky crust and creamy custard filling from scratch. As they bake we will talk about how to pair port wine with this classic Portuguese pastry. Feel free to come prepared with your own favorite port wine, or coffee or tea if you wish.

We're not giving away our secret recipe just yet, but here are the items that you will need for the cooking class:
Ingredients for the pastry (makes about six mini tarts):
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2-4 tbsp very cold water
  • 1/2 stick butter (unsalted or regular) at room temperature.
Ingredients for the custard filling:
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar or caster sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 or 2 strips of lemon zest

  • 1/3 cup of water
  • 1 tbsp plain flour
  • 2/3 cup + 1 tbsp whole milk
  • 3 large egg yolks, beaten
  • Ground cinnamon (optional)
Kitchen tools
  • Bowls
  • Rolling Pin
  • Table knife or small spatula
  • Saucepan
  • Wood spoon
  • Stove and oven

Maria Lima, after a professional career in management, decided to follow a dream and take a cooking course in Edinburgh, Scotland in a reputable Cookery School. After and during the course, she had the opportunity to cook and develop some recipes that she would never have imagined. She also had the possibility to work with a couple of chefs of great reputation in the food industry, along with the opportunity to improve and perform various positions in the hospitality, which allowed her to have enormous knowledge and vast experience. After returning to Portugal, she worked as a chef and manager at an estate in the Douro Valley, where she had the opportunity to improve her knowledge as a chef and to hold workshops with the guests. As a manager, soon she invite guests to join her to discover Douro Valley and her passion for wines, which allowed her to gain more knowledge and developing her passion of guiding people. Join her in her passion for food and wine along with her cooking techniques mixed with her pleasure in traveling and discovering different dishes and cultures. She always provide you with a memorable experience.

Not suitable for children under age 13 (sensitive content).

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 82 reviews
79%
(65)
13%
(11)
7%
(6)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
V
Victoria W. (Hawick, GB)
Fantastic Pastel De Nata Cook Along

A couple of nights ago, I took part in the Pastel De Nata's course with the wonderful Chef Maria Lima direct from her home in Porto.
The course is an absolute bargain if you enjoy cooking and would like to learn how to make these iconic Portuguese tarts. Maria Lima is so encouraging and full of wonderful tips that really make the experience unforgettable....and at the end you have a tray of lovely custard tarts encased in your very own homemade flaky pastry. You can also enjoy joining Maria as she talks about the regions wine and port and what to pair with your tarts.
All the ingredients are what you would most likely have in your store cupboard as well, so no need to rush out to buy anything extra. Highly Recommended!

T
Tina (Smartno pri Litiji, SI)
Highly recommend

A fun and interesting class with a wonderful chef. Pastel de natas were a big success

K
Kate Allies (Windsor, GB)
Great experience

I really enjoyed the 90 minute class run by Maria who gave very clear instructions to make one of my favourite tarts. I’ll definitely be making them again using her method.

J
Jackie Millea (Minneapolis, US)
Delicious!

Maria was so friendly, encouraging and fun! The recipe and instructions were easy to follow and the results brought back memories of our times in Portugal! It was so fun to cook with people all over the world, how cool is that?

S
S.S. (Olympia, US)
Enjoyed seminar and made delicious tarts

My granddaughter is the chef in our family. She watched the zoom session and then made the tarts afterwards. She used King Arthur gluten free flour for the crust. It did create a flaky crust, but as with all gluten free baked goods it was a bit heavier and chewier than using regular flour. But we don’t have a choice. The custard turned out great. All in all, it was a success. She enjoyed it all.

Customer Reviews

Based on 82 reviews
79%
(65)
13%
(11)
7%
(6)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
V
Victoria W. (Hawick, GB)
Fantastic Pastel De Nata Cook Along

A couple of nights ago, I took part in the Pastel De Nata's course with the wonderful Chef Maria Lima direct from her home in Porto.
The course is an absolute bargain if you enjoy cooking and would like to learn how to make these iconic Portuguese tarts. Maria Lima is so encouraging and full of wonderful tips that really make the experience unforgettable....and at the end you have a tray of lovely custard tarts encased in your very own homemade flaky pastry. You can also enjoy joining Maria as she talks about the regions wine and port and what to pair with your tarts.
All the ingredients are what you would most likely have in your store cupboard as well, so no need to rush out to buy anything extra. Highly Recommended!

T
Tina (Smartno pri Litiji, SI)
Highly recommend

A fun and interesting class with a wonderful chef. Pastel de natas were a big success

K
Kate Allies (Windsor, GB)
Great experience

I really enjoyed the 90 minute class run by Maria who gave very clear instructions to make one of my favourite tarts. I’ll definitely be making them again using her method.

J
Jackie Millea (Minneapolis, US)
Delicious!

Maria was so friendly, encouraging and fun! The recipe and instructions were easy to follow and the results brought back memories of our times in Portugal! It was so fun to cook with people all over the world, how cool is that?

S
S.S. (Olympia, US)
Enjoyed seminar and made delicious tarts

My granddaughter is the chef in our family. She watched the zoom session and then made the tarts afterwards. She used King Arthur gluten free flour for the crust. It did create a flaky crust, but as with all gluten free baked goods it was a bit heavier and chewier than using regular flour. But we don’t have a choice. The custard turned out great. All in all, it was a success. She enjoyed it all.