Pastel de nata

Allergens at a glance

• UsuallyEggsEgg yolks make the custard.
• UsuallyMilkMilk in the custard; butter or margarine in the pastry.
• UsuallyGlutenWheat puff pastry, plus flour to thicken the custard.

Usually in the standard recipe. Often in many versions. Sometimes in some kitchens, or a cross-contact risk.

Diets

• Vegetarian; not vegan.
• Not gluten-free: wheat pastry and flour in the custard.
• No meat or alcohol in the standard recipe.

Recipes change from kitchen to kitchen. If you have an allergy, confirm every ingredient with the restaurant before you order.

What is pastel de nata?

A pastel de nata is a small Portuguese custard tart with a crisp, layered pastry shell and a rich egg custard, baked in a very hot oven until the top is scorched in dark spots. It's eaten warm, often dusted with cinnamon. The recipe traces back to the monks of the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, Lisbon, and today it's sold in every café in Portugal.

What's in it

• Pastry: a laminated wheat dough, rolled into a log, sliced and pressed into small tins so the layers spiral up the sides.
• Custard: egg yolks, sugar, milk and a little flour, flavoured with lemon peel and a cinnamon stick.
• Toppings: ground cinnamon and sometimes icing (powdered) sugar, added at the table.

Despite the name, nata (cream) isn't always in the custard; many recipes use only milk.

Allergens and diets

Assume egg, milk and gluten. The custard is egg yolk, milk and sugar thickened with wheat flour, and the pastry is wheat. Every pastel de nata contains all three.

The pastry fat varies. Many bakeries use butter, and others use margarine, which can contain milk and sometimes soy, so don't assume a dairy-free pastry. The custard is fully baked, so the egg is cooked.

They're vegetarian, but not vegan. Gluten-free and vegan versions exist, but they're specialist products, and a regular café won't have them. Cafés also sell many other pastries from the same display, so cross-contact with nuts is possible: if you have a nut allergy, ask.

On the menu

You'll see pastel de nata (plural pastéis de nata) in every pastelaria (pastry shop) and café. The famous Belém shop sells its version as pastel de Belém. They're sold individually, often for small change, and the classic order is one or two with a bica (an espresso in Lisbon) or a galão (milky coffee in a glass).

Last checked 1 November 2026. Spotted something wrong? Email support@inventum.com.au.