Pineapple tart is a small, bite-size tart filled or topped with pineapple jam, commonly found throughout different parts of Southeast Asia such as Indonesia (kue nastar),[6] Malaysia (Baba Malay: kueh tae or kuih tair,[7] Malay language: kuih tat nanas), Brunei and Singapore in various forms.[6]

Pineapple tart
Pineapple tarts in the shape of rolls open at the ends and filled with jam
Alternative namesNastar, tat nanas, kueh tae, kue nanas
TypeTart
CourseDessert
Region or stateMaritime Southeast Asia and East Asia[1][2][3][4]
Associated cuisineIndonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei[5]
Main ingredientsPastry (butter, egg yolk, corn starch), pineapple jam

The pineapple tart may have been invented in the 16th century. This is around the time the pineapple, a fruit native to South America, was introduced to Asia and the Malay Peninsula by Portuguese merchants.[3][4][1][2]

General description edit

The pastry consists of a large proportion of butter and egg yolk, and some corn starch, giving it a rich, buttery, tender and melt-in-the-mouth texture. The pineapple jam is usually making a slow reduction of grated fresh pineapple that is caramelized with a mix of sugar and spices, usually cinnamon, star anise and cloves.

Typical shapes include a flat, open tart topped with pineapple jam under a lattice of pastry, rolls filled with jam that are open at the ends, and jam-filled spheres or elongated shapes.[8]

Regions edit

Indonesia edit

 
Kue nastar, sphere cookies with pineapple jam inside

In Indonesia, it is called nastar which is contraction of nanas tart (Ananas or pineapple tart), is a popular cookie or kue kering during festive occasions of Lebaran, Natal and Imlek.[citation needed] Just like many of Indonesian kue kering (cookies), its origin comes from the Dutch influence on Indonesian pastry, cake and cookies tradition.[citation needed] Most nastar is made as a round shape with a diameter of about 2 cm. The pineapple jam is filled inside instead of spread on top.[citation needed]

Malaysia and Singapore edit

 
Peranakan pineapple tart, with pineapple jam sits on top of it

Considered a "festive cookie", pineapple tarts are especially popular during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali celebrations in Singapore and Malaysia.[9] They are also sold all year round by commercial bakeries and souvenir stores serving tourists.

Taiwan edit

The Taiwanese version of pineapple tart is known as fènglísū (鳳梨酥).[10] The filling is fully enclosed within a rectangular tart. Generally the taste is sweet due to sugar added. However, many bakers add or even substitute pineapple with winter melon to make the jam less tart as well giving a less fibrous texture to the filling.

Australia edit

In Australia the term often refers to a variation on the Neenish Tart, with pineapple jam below the filling, and passionfruit icing.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Andrea Nguyen (2011). Asian Dumplings: Mastering Gyoza, Spring Rolls, Samosas, and More. Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. p. 195. ISBN 978-16-077-4092-6.
  2. ^ a b Terry Tan & Christopher Tan (2012). "David Thompson". Singapore Cooking: Fabulous Recipes from Asia's Food Capital. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-14-629-0530-0.
  3. ^ a b "Pineapple Tarts: A Piece Of Tropical Singapore". Michelin Guide Digital-Singapore. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  4. ^ a b Grace Teo (24 January 2016). "Nyonya Pineapple Tarts". Nyonya Cooking. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  5. ^ "Pineapple | Infopedia".
  6. ^ a b "Nastar cookies (Indonesian pineapple tarts)". Chef in disguise. 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  7. ^ Lee Khang Yi (22 July 2018). "Symbolism and traditions rule at a Peranakan wedding feast". Malay Mail. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  8. ^ Teh, Lydia (7 November 2018). Honk! if you're Malaysian. MPH Group Pub. ISBN 9789833698127 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Osborne, Christine (7 November 1989). Southeast Asian Food and Drink. Bookwright Press. ISBN 9780531182345 – via Internet Archive. Pineapple tarts malaysia.
  10. ^ Hong Dam-young (7 July 2017). "[Weekender] Taiwanese desserts gain ground in Korea". The Korean Herald. Retrieved 2020-05-02.