Do you love egg tarts? Such is their popularity worldwide that there many variations of egg tart recipes around the world. There are versions made in Brazil, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Macao, Portugal and various countries in Asia. In Asia, the two main types are the Portuguese egg tart and the Chinese egg tart.
The main difference between these two types of tarts is obvious. The Portuguese egg tart recipe creates a delicious caramelised burnt custard top and is a popular food found in bakeries and many Macau Portuguese restaurants.And if you’re wondering what to eat in Macau, egg tarts should be at the top of your list of Macanese cuisine.
When visiting Macao, make the pilgrimage to Lord Stow’s Bakery on Coloane Island, where Lord Stow’s egg tart is apastel de nata-inspired version that is considered by many connoisseurs as the best of the best.
Contents
- Portuguese Egg Tart
- Lord Stow’s Bakery
- Lord Stow’s Egg Tart
- Perfecting the Portuguese Egg Tart Recipe
- Best Egg Tarts in the world
- Other Food Experiences in Macao
- Portuguese Egg Tart
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Egg Tart Filling
- Pastry
- Notes
- Nutrition Information
Portuguese Egg Tart
Lord Stow’s Bakery
By Bonnie Tai
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While visiting historic Macao, a treasure hunt for the perfect egg tart will take you away from the fast-rising skyline of Macao’s Cotai strip to Lord Stow’s Bakery in Coloane Village, where you will learn why the world’s best egg tarts are made in Macao.
Macau’s sweltering subtropical heat hits you the moment I step foot outside your flashy air-conditioned hotel, fogging up your sunglasses.
If you’re on a mission to find the perfect egg tart, head to Coloane Village, which is ia 20-minute drive from the towering skyscrapers, glitzy city lights and luxury hotels of the Cotai Strip.
Coloane is Macau’s southernmost island and an area steeped in history, traditional Chinese shopfronts, quaint Portuguese-style houses and narrow lanes.
Before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1864, the sleepy village was a sea salt farm, supplying salt to the mainland and right up to 1910, it served as a haven for marauding pirates.
Today, Coloane Village is best known as the birthplace of the Portuguese Egg Tart – the culinary centrepiece of the Macanese food scene.
Lord Stow’s Egg Tart
The scene around Lord Stow’s Bakery is rustic.
An elderly woman wrapped in worn clothing sweeps the quiet streets with a broom made of straw.
In the distance, a friendly stray kitten sniffs at a display of spiky durians outside of an old vegetable market.
A sweet aroma wafts through the air, leading to the original Lord Stow’s Bakery at 1 Rua do Tassara, the very spot where Englishman Andrew Stow first experimented with the now-famous egg tart recipe in the late ’80s.
An industrial pharmacist by trade, Stow had no prior experience as a pastry chef.
But a chance trip to Lisbon saw him become fixated with the Pasteis de Nata, the Portuguese egg tart, stirring his determination to bring the creation home to Macau.
Perfecting the Portuguese Egg Tart Recipe
Without an egg tart recipe or a clue of where to even begin, Andrew got to work, experimenting with new techniques and fresh ingredients (he famously despised the use of preservatives).
What resulted was a hybrid creation featuring creamy custard reminiscent of the British egg tart with a caramelised creme brulee shell, and light, flaky pastry inspired by his original muse, the Pasteis de Nata.
After perfecting his recipe, he opened Lord Stow’s Bakery in 1989, where word of his tarts soon attracted the attention of journalists and respected foodies.
Today, the unassuming yellow building is weathered and worn.
But the haggard exterior does not deter the snaking queue of keen customers who make their way to Coloane Village each day, eager to get their sweet fix.
Best Egg Tarts in the world
In this line, strike up a conversation with one of the people in the line and ask if they have tried the famous egg tarts before.
Many visitors from around the region, including Hong Kong and Singapore, make a point to stop by at Lord Stow’s to take home dozens of egg tarts to share with family and friends.
For some, the egg tarts at Lord Stow’s are like nowhere else in the world.
Fortunately, the line moves quickly, and you’ll soon find yourself inside.
Within the bakery, a pastry chef busily sets aside trays and trays of freshly baked egg tarts on a bench to cool.
Between all their stores, they turn over about 14,000 a day of delicious Portuguese egg tarts.
One bite and the topping, dotted with caramelised black spots, shatters and you’re introduced to the rich custard within.
And then there is the pastry — light, buttery and flakey — it is a joy to eat.
Over the next few days, you might find yourself buying egg tarts from every vendor you come across, like an addict ‘chasing the dragon’.
But nothing else compares to your first high at Lord Stow’s, and none have come close ever since.
Believe the hype.
Other Food Experiences in Macao
Macao is attracting chefs from all over the world. Several Michelin-starred chefs have set up restaurants in Macao.
The world’s top French chefs have set up fine-dining restaurants here.
Chinese food is available everywhere and Macanese food is a delicious fusion of Portuguese and Chinese flavours.
Japanese and Italian cuisines are also popular in Macao.
You won’t have to go far in Macao to find a good restaurant. Macao’s luxury resorts all have excellent restaurants but if you’re keen to eat on the street, here are some local cafes to try and here’s a list of vegetarian restaurants.
Read our guide to Macau dining to find out where to eat in Macau.
Here’s a great crab salad recipe from Chef Alex Gasper of La Chine restaurant at The Parisian.
Here’s a Macau egg tart recipe shared with us by Andrew Maree, Executive Chef at The Parisian Macao. It’s easy to follow and great for dinner parties.
Yield: Makes 24 Egg Tarts
Do you love egg tarts? Such is their popularity worldwide that there many variations of egg tart recipes around the world. There are versions of egg tarts made in Brazil, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Macao, Portugal and various countries in Asia. In Asia, the two main types of egg tarts are the Portuguese egg tart and the Chinese egg tart. The main difference between these two types of tarts are obvious. The Portuguese egg tart recipe creates a delicious caramelised burnt custard top. Here's a Macau egg tart recipe shared with us by Andrew Maree, Executive Chef at The Parisian Macao. It's easy to follow and great for dinner parties.
Ingredients
- Eggs - 150g
- Egg yolks - 150 g
- Sugar - 195g
- Milk - 300ml
- Cream - 300ml
- Salt - a pinch
- Finely grated lemon zest - 5g
- Bread flour - 250g
- Ice cold water - 210ml
- Salted butter - 240g
Instructions
Egg Tart Filling
- Break the eggs into a bowl, add sugar and whisk.
- Add salt, lemon zest, milk and cream.
- Allow to sit for 30 minutes.
- Fill the egg tart shells and allow to bake at 190C for 12 to 15 minutes.
- The tops will darken in patches (this is normal). All to cool before serving.
Pastry
- Mix flour, salt and water.
- Dust a chopping board with flour and work the dough into a ball. Set aside for 20 minutes.
- Shape the dough into a rectangle (25cm x 14cm).
- Combine the dough and salted butter using a rolling pin. Wrap and set aside in a refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Cut the log into slices (75cms each) and place each slice into a well-greased mould or non-stick muffin tin. Using your finger, flatten the dough from the centre outwards and spread it across the mould.
- Create a raised lip 1/2 an inch above the pan. The sides of the pastry should be thinner than the bottom.
Notes
Before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1864, the sleepy village was a sea salt farm, supplying salt to the mainland and right up to 1910, it served as a haven for marauding pirates.
Today, Coloane Village is best known as the birthplace of thePortuguese Egg Tart– the culinary centrepiece of theMacanese food scene.
Nutrition Information
Yield 24Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 219Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 128mgSodium 93mgCarbohydrates 17gFiber 0gSugar 9gProtein 4g
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