Tarte de Maçã or translated to Portuguese Apple Tart is likely a dish you've not heard of from the custard capital known as Portugal. As a tourist even when you leave the capital Lisbon and venture to a different part of the country, you'll still find custard tarts every where. We ate so many custard tarts during visit there some years ago that custard was hard to face for some months thereafter.
Yet Portugal is not defined by one custard dish and this super simple tart that has ingredients easily found in most supermarkets and with apple season upon us it is never a better time to make this. Most years in the lead up to fall, I dream of the abundance of apples and all the things one can make with the vast variety of apples that suddenly appear and feel . Something about apples and all the delicious ways to prepare them is even more exciting when you have a foreign food blog.
Honestly, like potatoes, a lot of cultures have their take and way to consume apples and today's recipe is but one. It's a humble recipe that doesn't require any unusual ingredients, so I hope you have these in your kitchen or can pick them up easily and are inspired to try this, because it's a bit addictive.
We love pastry in our house, so it may be for that reason that this Portuguese Apple Tart disappeared pretty swiftly. Bought pastry makes this even easier and you don't need a huge bunch of apples to make this either, only six and it's the kind of dessert most people outside Portugal have probably never tasted, so a good way to impress friends.
The ingredients for Tarte de Maçã lemon juice, water and store bought puff pastry and is likely a way you've never used apples before in such an unfussy tart that looks like a showstopper, but you'll know when serving it that this wasn't as difficult to make.
Why you'll love this
Light and flaky puff pastry
Store bought puff pastry is easiest here and makes a great and easy base for the tart.
Apple filling
A homemade apple syrup tops sliced apples which intensifies the apple flavor making for great fall dessert.
Ingredients for Tarte de Maçã - Portuguese Apple Tart
- Apples: The star ingredient which is not only sliced here, but also infuses a syrup for extra apple punch. The best apples here are tart like Granny Smith or Gala so they hold their shape during baking.
- Lemon juice: The juice helps draw out the juices from the apples and the acidity helps the apples to not go brown.
- Puff pastry: The best option here is store bought to make life easier! Flaky puff pastry works great and you'll see those layers shine through.
- Sugar: Superfine/caster sugar gives sweetness without addtional flavor to the tart, you could substitute with raw sugar, though this would take longer to dissolve into the syrup. The sugar helps to heighten the flavor of apples in our tart without adding additional flavor as a brown sugar would do.
- Egg yolk: This helps give a beautiful glaze to the tart and that caramel color on top.
FAQ's for the best Tarte de Maçã - Portuguese Apple Tart
What kind of puff pastry should I use here?
You can easily use store bought puff pastry to make this tart, however, if you would like to homemake it, this recipe looks to be a great one.
What type of apples are best for this tart?
Any firm or tart baking apples that aren't too sweet work best here so they maintain their shape during baking such as Granny smith of Gala apples.
When should I prepare my apples?
The apples should all be prepared and sliced thinly at the same time, just before you make the tart and this will help the process quicker.
Can I make the tart ahead?
Absolutely! Though this is best served the day it's made, it can be easily kept covered in a container for a further 2 days so could be served the day after it's made.
More apple recipes you'll enjoy
Versunkener Apfelkuchen - Sunken Apple Cake
How to make:
Greaseproof your pie dish and preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
Slice 2 of the 6 apples thinly and place in a medium saucepan with half the lemon juice, half the sugar and all the water on high heat.
Cook, stirrring, until the sugar has dissolved, the apples are soft and a syrup has been formed.
Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
Remove your puff pastry from the freezer to thaw slightly.
Meanwhile, slice the remaining apples into thin slices and place in a bowl with the remaining lemon juice. Set aside.
Press your slightly thawed puff pastry sheet into your prepared pie dish, trimming the excess edges.
Spoon the two cooked apples in your syrup and half the syrup over the base.
Take the thinly sliced apples and layer on top until all slices have been spread out.
Pour the remaining syrup over the top.
Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the top evenly and brush over the egg yolk.
Place in the oven to bake for approximately 35 minutes until the crust and apples are golden.
Remove and allow to cool until warm.
Slice and serve as is or with a little ice cream if you're feeling a little fancy.
Portuguese Apple Tart - Tarte de Maçã
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Category: Pies and Tarts
- Cuisine: Portuguese
Description
A fussy free Portuguese apple tart in a puff pastry shell with an apple syrup underneath those golden slices makes for an easy and fuss free dessert.
Ingredients
6 medium apples, peeled, quartered and cored
14 grams / ¼ cup lemon juice
150 grams / ⅔ cup superfine/caster sugar
60 milliliters / ¼ cup water
375 grams / 11.3 ounces puff pastry, pre rolled
1 egg yolk, room temperature and lightly whisked
Instructions
- Greaseproof your pie dish and preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
- Slice 2 of the 6 apples thinly and place in a medium saucepan with half the lemon juice, half the sugar and all the water on high heat.
- Cook, stirrring, until the sugar has dissolved, the apples are soft and a syrup has been formed.
- Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Remove your puff pastry from the freezer to thaw slightly.
- Meanwhile, slice the remaining apples into thin slices and place in a bowl with the remaining lemon juice. Set aside.
- Press your slightly thawed puff pastry sheet into your prepared pie dish, trimming the excess edges.
- Spoon the two cooked apples in your syrup and half the syrup over the base.
- Take the thinly sliced apples and layer on top until all slices have been spread out.
- Pour the remaining syrup over the top.
- Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the top evenly and brush over the egg yolk.
- Place in the oven to bake for approximately 35 minutes until the crust and apples are golden.
- Remove and allow to cool until warm.
- Slice and serve as is or with a little ice cream, if you're feeling a little fancy.
Notes
Recipe from Easy Portuguese Recipes
Nutrition
- Calories: 564 calories per serve
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