Queijadas De Sintra (Portuguese Cheese Tarts With Cinnamon)
- PASTRY
- 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 1/2 - 2/3 cup ice water
- CHEESE FILLING
- 1/4 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (at room temperature)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pats
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup un-sifted all-purpose flour
- For the pastry: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl.
- With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the texture of fine meal.
- Forking briskly, drizzle just enough ice water over the mixture to make it hold together.
- Shape into a ball, wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate several hours.
- Meanwhile, prepare the filling: In a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade (or in a blender or electric mixer set at highest speed), process the mozzarella, butter, sugar, and cinnamon about 60 seconds nonstop until smooth and creamy.
- Scrape down the work bowl sides with a rubber spatula and beat 60 seconds longer.
- Note: It will take longer for the electric mixer to reduce the mixture to creaminess, perhaps 3 to 4 minutes of steady beating.
- Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the flour and pulse the motor on once or twice to blend.
- Transfer the mixture to a small bowl; cover and chill several hours.
- When ready to bake the queijadas, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Divide the pastry in half and roll, first one half, then the other, as thin as paper, on a lightly floured pastry cloth with a lightly floured, stockinette-covered rolling pin.
- Cut into rounds with a 3 1/2 inch cutter.
- Also re-roll and cut the scraps.
- Fit the pastry into plain or fluted tart tins measuring 2 1/2 inches across the top.
- Set the tins on baking sheets, then half-fill each tart shell with the cheese mixture.
- Bake uncovered for 18 to 20 minutes, just until the filling is puffy and a rich amber brown.
- Remove the tarts from the oven, cool until easy to handle; then using a small pointed knife, gently pry the tarts from the tins.
- Serve at room temperature.
flour, salt, vegetable shortening, water, mozzarella cheese, unsalted butter, sugar, ground cinnamon, egg yolks, flour
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/queijadas-de-sintra-portuguese-cheese-tarts-with-cinnamon-230342 (may not work)