Queijadas de Sintra

The story

Queijadas de Sintra is a traditional Portuguese dessert presented with exact metric quantities, practical preparation detail, controlled temperatures, visual doneness cues and a method suitable for confident home cooking.

Ingredients

• Main ingredients
• 300 g plain flour
• 60 g butter
• 400 g fresh cheesewell drained
• 250 g caster sugar
• 4 piece eggs
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Method

1. Step 1

   Mix flour, butter, a pinch of salt and 140 ml water into a firm dough. Knead 5 minutes, cover and rest 30 minutes.

   Look for: The food should match the colour, texture and doneness cues described in the instruction. Tip: Prepare every cut to the stated size so the ingredients cook evenly. Avoid: Do not rush the heat or skip the stated resting, cooling or preparation stage.

2. Step 2

   Drain fresh cheese thoroughly and mash smooth. Beat with sugar, eggs, cinnamon and lemon zest.

   Look for: The food should match the colour, texture and doneness cues described in the instruction. Tip: Prepare every cut to the stated size so the ingredients cook evenly. Avoid: Do not rush the heat or skip the stated resting, cooling or preparation stage.

3. Step 3

   Roll pastry very thin, about 1 mm, and line twelve greased tart moulds with slight pleats.

   Look for: The food should match the colour, texture and doneness cues described in the instruction. Tip: Prepare every cut to the stated size so the ingredients cook evenly. Avoid: Do not rush the heat or skip the stated resting, cooling or preparation stage.

4. Step 4

   Fill three-quarters full. Bake at 200°C conventional or 180°C fan for 22–28 minutes until browned at the edges and set.

   Look for: The food should match the colour, texture and doneness cues described in the instruction. Tip: Prepare every cut to the stated size so the ingredients cook evenly. Avoid: Do not rush the heat or skip the stated resting, cooling or preparation stage.

5. Step 5

   Cool in moulds for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

   Look for: The food should match the colour, texture and doneness cues described in the instruction. Tip: Prepare every cut to the stated size so the ingredients cook evenly. Avoid: Do not rush the heat or skip the stated resting, cooling or preparation stage.

Nutrition

per serving

Estimated from a representative ingredient basket; verify against exact brands and edible yields before publication.