Description
Tequeños are irresistible Venezuelan cheese sticks, wrapped in a slightly sweet dough and fried to golden perfection, making them a must-have at any party.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 cups (340 grams) of flour (whole wheat flour works too!)
- 1/4 cup (42.5 grams) of butter, softened
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon (6 grams) of sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) of salt
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of water
- 12 ounces of Caribe Queso Blanco or other frying cheese, cut into sticks
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, softened butter, egg yolk, sugar, salt, and water until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough for 10-15 minutes until smooth. If using a stand mixer, mix on speed 2 (low speed) for 2 minutes followed by speed 3 (medium speed) for 1 minute.
- Roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thickness and cut into strips wide enough to wrap around the cheese sticks.
- Wrap each cheese stick with a strip of dough, ensuring the cheese is fully enclosed and the edges are sealed well.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the tequeños in batches until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. If frying from frozen, add an additional minute to the frying time.
- Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Serve hot, ensuring the cheese is slightly oozing out for the authentic experience.
Notes
The dough can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Assemble and freeze tequeños for up to a month; fry them directly from the freezer. Use a good frying cheese like Caribe Queso Blanco for the best results. Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Venezuelan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tequeño
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 15