Nº 447 Marvão Chestnut Tart
Cakes & Sweet Breads · The Alentejo

Marvão Chestnut Tart

Also known as: Marvão Chestnut Tart · Marvão PDO Chestnut Pastry

A thin rectangular tart with glossy Marvão-Portalegre PDO chestnut cream.

Origin
Marvão · São Mamede Mountains
Region
Marvão · São Mamede Mountains
Season
Year-round; especially prominent at the Chestnut Fair
Sweetness
Richness
Difficulty

Pastel de Castanha de Marvão is a long individual rectangular tart with rounded corners. A very thin, golden brittle shell frames a fully exposed, smooth brown filling set almost level with the rim. The cream is dense, velvety and glossy, with neither a pastry lid nor powdered sugar.

Its documented formula combines cooked Marvão-Portalegre PDO chestnuts with egg cream, gila preserve, sugar and water. Chestnut dominates the colour and texture, while yolk and gila add gloss, richness and sweetness.

Ingredients
  • cooked Marvão-Portalegre PDO chestnuts
  • egg cream
  • gila preserve
  • sugar
  • water
  • thin shortcrust pastry
Taste & texture

Sweet earthy chestnut, rich yolk and delicate gila in a thin crisp shell.

Variations

The reference creation is rectangular, open, and filled with chestnut, egg and gila cream. It should not be confused with round chestnut custard tarts or closed turnovers.

Where to try it

At Marvão com Gosto and other outlets in the municipality, especially during the Chestnut Fair; local sources say it can also be found year-round. Confirm availability.

Pairs well with

Espresso, black tea or a Portalegre fortified wine.

History

The pastry emerged from a challenge issued by Marvão Municipality to the Portalegre School of Hospitality and Tourism. Created by chef Cristiano Louro, it was first presented publicly at the 31st Chestnut Fair in 2014 to promote Marvão chestnuts and their growers.

In 2019, entered by the municipality and Cristina Andrade of Marvão com Gosto, it became one of Portalegre district's seven Seven Wonders of Portuguese Sweets nominees in the Innovation category, reaching the national public-vote list of 140.

Sources: cm-marvao.pt · cm-marvao.pt · andarilho.pt · caruspinus.pt