Nastar, also known as pineapple tarts, is a popular Indonesian pastry that is often enjoyed during festive occasions such as Chinese New Year and Eid al-Fitr. In this article, I will provide a brief history of nastar and share a delicious recipe for making it at home.
History of Nastar
Nastar is believed to have originated in Indonesia during the Dutch colonial period. It was introduced by Dutch colonizers who brought with them the recipe for butter cookies, which were traditionally made for Christmas in the Netherlands.
The Indonesians adapted the recipe and added local ingredients such as pineapple, resulting in the creation of nastar. The pastry quickly became popular among the locals and is now considered a traditional Indonesian delicacy.
How to Make Nastar
Here is a simple recipe for making delicious nastar at home. With this simple recipe, you can enjoy the sweet, buttery goodness of nastar in the comfort of your own home.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
- 400 grams all-purpose flour
- 200 grams butter, softened
- 2 egg yolks
- 50 grams powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the pineapple filling:
- 1 ripe pineapple, peeled and grated
- 150 grams granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 1 star anise
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F).
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, powdered sugar, and salt until light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract, and mix until well combined.
4. Gradually add the flour to the mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
5. Roll the dough into small balls, about the size of a marble.
6. Flatten each ball into a disc and place a small amount of pineapple filling in the center.
7. Pinch the edges of the dough together to seal the filling inside, and roll the ball between your palms to form a smooth, round shape.
8. Place the nastar on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each one.
9. Bake the nastar in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
10. Remove the nastar from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
For the pineapple filling:
1. In a saucepan, combine the grated pineapple, sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise.
2. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the pineapple has softened and the mixture has thickened.
3. Remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise, and let the mixture cool completely before using it as a filling.
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