Being Venezuelan, I’m very happy and proud to be able to share this most typical and traditional appetizer recipe with you. It is called a “tequeño”, and it is always an honored guest at every special occasion. In fact, it has become quite popular in other countries around the world, as well. Tequeños are small cheese sticks, rolled in soft dough and fried to a crunchy and delicious perfection. They are fantastically simple and quick to prepare. The classic tequeño recipe has changed over time, with the addition of other varied ingredients to the cheese. One well-loved variety is the tequeyoyo maracucho, which includes guava and sweet plantain. Tequeños are always a staple at home. My family loves them. Why not join the fun and try them for yourself? You won’t regret it.
8 Ingredients
1 lb of semi-hard queso blanco (white cheese)
2 cups of all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons of butter
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of sugar
4-5 tablespoons of cold water
4 cups of corn oil
Tips.
.- If desired not to fry tequeños, place them in oven preheated to 350°F; bake until they are golden brown.
.- For an irresistible variation on this classic, add strips of guava paste to the cheese.
.- Tequeños can be prepared in advance. Just wrap the rolled up cheese and dough sticks well. Keep them in freezer.
Will be ready to fry when you can.
Steps.
Step 1
Prepare cheese by cutting into strips approximately 3/4 inch by 2 3/4 inches long.
Step 2
Place flour on large flat surface; shape into circle with hole in center. Combine egg and butter in hole. Mix salt, sugar and cold water together in small bowl. Add mixture slowly to flour, combining everything with hands. Keep mixing and kneading until dough is no longer sticky. When ready, shape into a ball and let it rest 1/2 hour at room temperature.
Step 3
Scatter flour on a clean, flat surface. After 1/2 hour has passed, place dough ball on surface and roll into a square approximately 1/8 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut the flattened dough into long uniform strips until there is one strip for each piece of cheese.
Step 4
Place a piece of queso blanco at one end of the first strip and roll it up until it is completely covered by dough. Make sure to press any open edges together to seal cheese in the dough completely, so that it does not leak out when it is fried. Repeat this with the rest of the cheese pieces.
Step 5
Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high flame. Once the oil is hot, lower the flame to a medium setting. Carefully, fry the tequeños until golden brown and crunchy.
Step 6
As you remove tequeños from oil, place on pieces of paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
Step 7
Time to eat!