Our Lady of Fatima’s Pastéis De Nata

by Grazia Barletta · Published May 13, 2024 · Updated May 12, 2024

Every month in her Cape Town kitchen, Grazia Barletta prepares a recipe inspired by the saints and shares it with our readers in text and photos taken exclusively for The Southern Cross by the chef herself.

On May 13, 1917, Mary first appeared to three shepherd children in a field near the north-western Portuguese town of Fatima.

It was the first of six apparitions by a beautiful lady dressed in white to Lucia dos Santos and the siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto. The lady told the children that she was from heaven, and requested they recite the rosary every day and return to the same place every month, at the same time for the following five months.

Over the course of that time, she made a loving but firm plea for reparation, penance, and recitation of the rosary not only for the salvation of souls but also for peace in the world. Our Lady came with a message from God for all humanity and promised peace if her requests were heeded. One of the most significant Marian apparitions, Our Lady of Fatima is venerated with a feast day on May 13.

Feast days are traditionally celebrated with Masses, special prayers and food — and a perfect way to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Fatima is with these most delicious Portuguese delights, Pastéis De Nata (Portuguese for cream pastries).

These little custard tarts were first made 300 years ago by monks in the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, near Lisbon.

Ingredients:

2 egg yolks and 1 whole egg • 115g caster sugar • 2 tbsp cornflour • 250ml cream • 150ml milk • 2tsp vanilla essence • 300g rolled puff pastry (I use one sheet of puff pastry)

Preparation: 65 min Servings: 12

Preparation:

Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin tray.
Put egg yolks, whole egg, sugar and cornflour in a pan and whisk together. Gradually whisk in the cream and milk until smooth.
Place the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Transfer the custard to a bowl, cover the surface with cling film to prevent skin from forming and leave to cool. Then preheat the oven to 200°C.
Dust your work surface with a bit of flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the pastry out to make a 45×30 cm rectangle. Roll up lengthways to create a long sausage shape. Cut the pastry into 12 wheels, about 1-2cm thick.
Roll each wheel lightly with the rolling pin to fit into the greased muffin tin, then press the pastry circles into the tins and mould them to make thin cases. Chill until needed.
Once the custard has cooled slightly, pour it into each pastry cup to three-quarters full.
Bake at 200°C for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the custard shows brown spots.
Allow the tarts to cool in the pan for five minutes, then let cool outside of the pan for another five minutes. Optional: Dust with cinnamon or powdered sugar.
Enjoy the Pastéis de Nata with a prayer to Our Lady of Fatima!

Published in the May 2023 issue of The Southern Cross magazine
Grazia Barletta is an author, book designer, and food photographer & stylist. She can be contacted at
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