Crafting Perfect Eggless Venezuelan Tequeños: A Delightful Recipe

Are you ready to embark on a culinary journey that will not only tantalize your taste buds but also elevate your cooking skills to a new level? Say hello to the Eggless Venezuelan Tequeños! These delectable treats, known for their crispy exterior and gooey, cheese-filled center, are a favorite snack across Venezuela.

Today, we're going to guide you through the art of crafting these delightful morsels without eggs.

The Tequeño Dough: The Heart of the Recipe

Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let's focus on the heart of this recipe - the Tequeño dough. It's the foundation upon which the entire culinary masterpiece rests.

Here's how to prepare it:

Ingredients for the Tequeño Dough:

- 2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

- 1/4 cup (60 ml) water

- 1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil

- 1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

- 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients

- Place the flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl of a stand mixer with the hook attachment. Mix to combine.

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients

- Add water, vegetable oil, milk, and brown sugar. Mix the dough for 5 - 7 minutes over medium speed, or until the dough is smooth and starts pulling away from the bowl's sides.

Step 3: Chill and Knead

- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a disc, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

- After 30 minutes, unwrap the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Knead with your hands until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 2 - 3 minutes. If the dough feels too sticky, add more flour (about one tablespoon) over the surface if necessary.

Now that you have prepared the Tequeño dough, let's move on to the next crucial step.

Forming the Tequeños: A Work of Art

The artistry of crafting Tequeños lies in the way you form them.

Here's how you do it:

Ingredients for Forming the Tequeños:

- 1 block (12 oz / 350 g) semi-hard white cheese for frying (Tropical queso de freir is a great choice)

- Vegetable, corn, or canola oil for frying

Step 1: Roll the Dough

- Roll the dough out into a 12 x 15-inch rectangle, 1/8-inch thick. Using a knife or a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 1-inch wide strips lengthwise so that you end up with 12 strips.

Step 2: Prepare the Cheese

- Cut the cheese block into 6 equal pieces, then cut each piece in half lengthwise, resulting in 12 cheese sticks. Note that you can form the Tequeños as big or small as you like; just cut the cheese accordingly to your preference.

Step 3: Wrap the Tequeños

- Take one strip of dough and cover one of the ends of one cheese stick with dough. Continue to wrap the dough around the stick in a spiral fashion, overlapping the edges until you reach the other end. Cover the other end with dough and pinch the edges close to seal thoroughly. The cheese has to be completely covered with dough. Repeat with the remaining cheese sticks.

Frying the Tequeños: The Culmination of Flavor

With your Tequeños expertly crafted, it's time to elevate them to perfection by frying. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Heat the Oil

- Add about 2 inches of oil to a skillet. Heat the oil to 350°F over medium heat.

Step 2: Fry to Golden Perfection

- When the oil is hot, fry the Tequeños in batches, 2 - 3 at a time, turning them until all sides are golden brown.

Step 3: Serve and Savor

- Remove the Tequeños to a plate lined with paper towels. Let them cool for 1 minute, and serve immediately with guasacasa, cilantro mojo, garlic sauce, and/or spicy pink sauce.

Now, you have a plate of Eggless Venezuelan Tequeños that are bound to delight your palate and impress your guests. This recipe opens the door to a world of flavor, and with your newfound expertise, you can take your culinary skills to a whole new level.

Embrace the joy of cooking and relish in the scrumptious delight of these homemade Tequeños. Enjoy!

Perfectly fried tequeños with guasaca plantain chips and a soft drink