Tequeños are going to be a memorable addition to your collection of appetizer recipes.
No one knows exactly how the beloved tequeño came to be. One story says they are the culinary creation of sisters who sold the food throughout Los Teques, Venezuela, around the early 1900s. Another story claims the snack took off after a chef prepared it for an affluent family visiting the city. Whatever version of events you believe, one thing is certain: Tequeños are simple to make, great for pleasing a crowd, and now exist as a popular street food all across Venezuela.
What is a tequeño, exactly? It’s a spear of thin, fried pastry dough stuffed with white cheese. You’re going to love how special these little finger foods are. They will only take a little bit of practice before you’re preparing them as efficiently as a Venezuelan grandma, and what fun to sample the results of your experiments! It’s also possible to customize them with dried or chopped fresh herbs or even minced garlic and onion. I love to serve these as appetizers at holiday parties, game nights, or cocktail parties—the sky’s the limit!
Are Tequeños Healthy?
Like most things fried and cheesy, tequeños are a fun food best enjoyed in moderation or for the occasional indulgence. If you want to try making them a bit lighter, some folks (like me!) also really enjoy them baked, which will mean a lot less fat. You can pop them in the oven at 350°F for around 10 minutes.
Cheeses To Try In Tequeños
Traditionally, a semi-solid white cheese is used as the filling in tequeños. Also called queso blanco, it seems to be readily available these days in most grocery stores. This type of cheese is made with acid, which means it actually won’t “melt” when exposed to heat—it’ll just get really soft. That’s because the acid introduced in the cheesemaking process affects the casein proteins in the cheese. This is what you want.
Paneer, feta, queso fresco, and halloumi are all interesting cheeses you could use in your tequeños. Just be aware that the cheese may leak out if you haven’t sealed the dough well enough!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
If you have leftover tequeños, put them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can reheat them in the oven at 350°F until heated through, about 10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
You’ll want a selection of fun and tasty sauces to dip your tequeños into! Try this Best Guacamole Recipe Ever, or this classic Onion Ring Sauce also pairs perfectly. If you’d like a ranch option, this Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix is the way to go. No bottled stuff needed.
For more South American-inspired recipes, take a look at this one for Peruvian Octopus Ceviche, this one for Huevos Pericos, and finish up with this Brazilian Caipirinha Cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 16 ounces semi-solid white cheese, cut into 1/2-inch thick sticks
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Incorporate the egg and melted butter into the dry ingredients.
- Gradually add warm water and knead the mixture until a smooth dough forms.
- Cover the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into strips.
- Wrap each cheese stick with a strip of dough, sealing the edges well.
- Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F.
- Fry the tequeños in batches until golden brown, then drain on paper towels.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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