Pastel de nata is the Portuguese custard tart with a caramelized top traditionally associated with Lisbon’s Belém district.
The tart consists of puff pastry wrapped into a small shell and filled with an egg-yolk custard. It is baked at high heat, which creates dark caramelized spots on the surface while keeping the center soft. Cinnamon and powdered sugar are commonly offered as accompaniments.
The pastry is linked to the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. After religious institutions were affected by the Liberal Revolution of 1820, pastries were sold to support the monastery, and the recipe became associated with the nearby Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém.
The protected bakery uses the name Pastéis de Belém for its own pastries, while pastel de nata is the general name used throughout Portugal and internationally.