Queijadas

Queijadas

Queijadas are a delightful Portuguese pastry with a sweet, cheesy filling. Here’s a traditional recipe for you:

Ingredients:

For the crust:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
  • 1 egg yolk

For the filling:

  • 1 cup grated queijo fresco (or a mild cheese like ricotta if queijo fresco isn’t available)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the Oven:
    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Prepare the Crust:
    • In a food processor, combine the flour and sugar.
    • Add the cold butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
    • Add the egg yolk and pulse until the dough just comes together. If it seems too dry, add a teaspoon of cold water.
    • Press the dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-inch tart pan or individual tart pans.
  3. Prepare the Filling:
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the cheese and sugar until smooth.
    • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
    • Stir in the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if using).
  4. Assemble and Bake:
    • Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
    • Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling is set and lightly golden on top.
  5. Cool and Serve:
    • Allow the queijadas to cool completely before removing them from the pan.
    • Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Enjoy your homemade queijadas!