Tequeños

★★★★4.8· 876 ratings

·Serves 6

About this Dish

Venezuela's most beloved party food — cheese-filled bread twists, deep fried until golden and served piping hot. The cheese must be queso blanco (white cheese) that stretches dramatically when pulled apart. No Venezuelan party, wedding or celebration is complete without tequeños. Now found in Venezuelan restaurants worldwide, they are the snack most associated with Venezuelan identity abroad.

IngredientsServes 6

🧀Queso blanco (or queso de mano), 400g cut into finger-length sticks

🌾All-purpose flour, 3 cups (375g)

🧈Cold unsalted butter, 150g cut into small cubes

🥚Eggs, 2 large

🧂Salt, 1 teaspoon

🥛Cold whole milk, 3-4 tablespoons

🫙Vegetable oil, enough for deep frying (about 1 litre)

Method

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar, then rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs — work quickly so the butter stays cold and the dough stays flaky.

Add the eggs and milk, then mix until a smooth, pliable dough forms. Knead gently for 2–3 minutes until it comes together cleanly. Wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about 3–4mm thickness. Cut into long strips roughly 2cm wide and 15cm long.

Take one strip and wrap it in a tight spiral around a stick of queso blanco, overlapping slightly as you go and pinching both ends firmly to seal the cheese completely inside. Repeat with all the cheese sticks and place on a tray. At this point you can freeze them for later if needed.

Heat the oil in a deep pot to 175°C (350°F). Fry the tequeños in small batches for 3–4 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are evenly golden and puffed all over. Do not overcrowd the pot or the oil temperature will drop.

Remove with a slotted spoon and drain briefly on kitchen paper. Serve immediately while the cheese is molten and stretchy — tequeños wait for no one.

User Reviews

No reviews yet — be the first!

Members can create lists, save favourites and get recommendations.

Find the Best Tequeños Near Me

AI-powered — Google, TripAdvisor and food blogs

🔥 Viral Recipes

How the world's most famous chefs — and creators — make this dish