Alvaiázere Grass-Pea Tart
Also known as: Alvaiázere Grass-Pea Tart · Grass-Pea Custard Tart
A creamy grass-pea tart on a crisp biscuit base.
- Origin
- Alvaiázere · Sicó Mountains
- Region
- Alvaiázere · Sicó Mountains
- Season
- Year-round; especially prominent at autumn and winter festivals
Tarte de Chícharo turns Alvaiázere's emblematic grass pea into a sliced sweet. A pressed base of Maria biscuits, butter and milk supports a smooth filling of grass-pea purée, egg yolks, sugar, cream and butter.
Once baked it has a golden top, dense creamy interior and a thin granular crisp base. Grass pea lends body and a gentle earthy legume flavour, related to Portugal's bean and chickpea tarts yet clearly distinct.
- cooked puréed grass peas
- Maria biscuits
- butter
- milk
- egg yolks
- sugar
- cream
Moderate sweetness, creamy yolk and dairy, an earthy grass-pea note and a buttery biscuit base.
Some versions are served plain and others with ice cream and fruit. It should not be confused with chickpea or bean tart, which use different legumes.
At restaurants and food events in Alvaiázere and the grass-pea region, especially during themed festivals; confirm availability.
Coffee, herbal tea or a lightly sweet regional liqueur.
For generations grass pea was a resilient food of the dry soils around Alvaiázere and the Aire and Candeeiros ranges. Recent culinary revival carried it far beyond migas and savoury accompaniments into bread, puddings, pastries, chocolates and this tart.
Tarte de Chícharo joined the 420 Seven Wonders of Portuguese Sweets nominees in 2019. It remains present on municipal menus and at regional festivals devoted to the legume, where associations and cooks present new uses for the local crop.
Sources: receitasemenus.net · ochicharodaserra.com · cm-alvaiazere.pt · gazetarural.com
Pastries from here — The Centre
Portuguese icon Ílhavo Piped Butter Biscuits
Regional buttery biscuits piped into deeply ridged rings and curves.
The Centre
Portuguese icon Saint Friar Gil’s Saddlebags
The small saddlebag-shaped pastry created at Vouzela’s vocational school and recognised as an innovative sweet.
The Centre
Portuguese icon Baixo Mondego Rice Pudding
Mondego Carolino rice and Gândara milk, traced with cinnamon.
The Centre
Portuguese icon Arrufada de Coimbra
Coimbra's light, fragrant sweet bread, given by godparents at Easter.
The Centre