A Culinary Journey: Portugal

Vivian Vassos | June 18th, 2015
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Portugal, Douro, Terraced vineyards along the Douro River valley. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Culinary Travel: Sweet Recipes Inspired by Portugal

Food, glorious food! We love to travel, but we love the idea of tasting the local dishes even more. When in Portugal, a must-try is the sweet little custard tarts. Pair it with coffee, or we like a more traditional twist: Sangria! The recipes come courtesy of Insight Vacations, the tour company that features many itineraries that will take you there.

 

 

Pastéis de Nata & Sangria

(Portuguese custard tarts)

No Insight Vacation would be complete without lots of opportunity to enjoy authentic cooking and local specialties. In preparation for your Iberian Adventure, why not try these traditional recipes to whet your appetite?

Original Recipe Yields 12 Servings

Pastéis de Nata

Ingredients

  • 1 (500g) Packet Puff Pastry
  • 225ml (8 fl oz) Milk
  • 3 Tablespoons Cornflour
  • 200g (7 oz) Caster Sugar
  • ½ Vanilla Bean
  • 6 Egg Yolks

Directions:

Prep: 20min › Cook: 20min › Ready in: 40min

  1. Preheat oven to 190 °C or Gas mark five. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin and line bottom and sides of cups with puff pastry.
  2. In a saucepan, combine milk, cornflour, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Place egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk ½ of the hot milk mixture into egg yolks. Gradually add egg yolk mixture back to remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, for five minutes, or until thickened. Remove vanilla bean.
  3. Fill pastry-lined muffin tin with mixture and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is lightly browned on top.

 NEXT: SANGRIA

Sangria

  • 3 Parts Red Wine
  • 1 Part Orange Juice
  • 2 Parts Lemonade
  • Ice
  • Fresh Mint
  • Sliced fruit such as

Oranges and Lemons

Directions:

  1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large jug and add more red wine, orange juice or lemonade according to taste and desired strength.
  2. Pour into glasses, garnish with mint sprigs and fruit.