Pasteis de nata is Portuguese for cream pastries — the name describes the velvety texture of this classic dish. The pastel de nata was first made over 300 years ago in a monastery west of Lisbon. Monks developed the custard-filled treat recipe with sugar and surplus egg yolks — a result of using egg whites to launder clothes.
Natas caseiras are perfectly sized, sweet, salty creamy and crispy Portuguese pastries. On my latest trip to Portugal I visited the famed-for-good-reason bakery Pasteis de Belém. Natas have always been one of my favorite desserts.
These days both the secret ‘original recipe’ and the pastry shop (Pastéis de Belém) are still owned by the descendants of that refinery. That’s why you will come across two different names for the same (or not quite) pastry; Pastel de Nata and Pastel de Belém.