Portuguese Custard Tarts – Pasteis de Nata

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 vanilla bean
• 1 cup white sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 1 (17.5 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C. ) Lightly grease 12 muffin cups and line bottom and sides with puff pastry.

In a saucepan, combine milk, cornstarch, sugar and vanilla. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Place egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk 1/2 cup of hot milk mixture into egg yolks. Gradually add egg yolk mixture back to remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove vanilla bean.

Fill pastry-lined muffin cups with mixture and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and filling is lightly browned on top