Fried until crispy golden with a cheesy center, try the Best Tequeños Recipe and you won’t be disappointed. Brought to you all the way from Venezuela. Ideal appetizer for parties.
Thank you, Tropical Cheese and Dime Media for sponsoring this post
The Best Tequeños Recipe
Well hello there! glad you came by since today I made the cheesiest appetizer you will ever try: Venezuelan Tequeños.
If you’ve never heard of these, they are basically dough that is wrapped in cheese and fried to golden perfection.
Got your attention now?
Because there’s a video below to show you how EASY they are to make fun as well.
I usually recruit my little ones to help with the wrapping part. They’re becoming quite the experts. 🙂
If you grew up in Venezuela, you’d know that there isn’t a party, whereas is a kid’s birthday or a elegant wedding where Tequeños are not present. To me, it symbolizes joy and celebration.
Obviously we don’t need the excuse of a party to make these. My girls love eating them for breakfast, or even a snack while they’re doing their homework.
Last year I posted a shortcut Tequeños recipe that only required 3 ingredients. Today I am showing you the real version that is 10000x times better than any other recipe out there.
Why?
Because I’ve tried them all, and made my own.
It took me while to come out with the Best Tequeños Recipe. But alas, I finally nailed it!
It was so exciting that I decided to make a video. Check it out below:
Keep in mind that the most important part of this recipe is the CHEESE. You can’t use mozzarella, or any other white cheese since it will melt and dissolve away.
For these Tequeños, I used Tropical Queso de Freir since it withstands the oil while frying and it’ll soften without completely melting.
Tropical Queso de Freir can be deep fried, grilled, or pan seared. It can serve as a substitute for sandwich bread or mozzarella sticks, added to a salad in place of croutons, or added to pasta. For more recipes check out Tropical Queso’s website.
I hope you can try The Best Tequeños Recipe at home. If you do, please upload a pic on Instagram and tag me @Livingsweetmoments or use the hashtag #LivingSweet. I promise to repost it.
Fried until crispy golden with a cheesy center, try the Best Tequeños Recipe and you won't be disappointed. Brought to you all the way from Venezuela. Ideal appetizer for parties.
- 16 oz Semi-Soft White Cheese
- 3 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 tablespoons Butter melted
- 1/2 cup Water warm
- 1 1/2 cups Vegetable Oil for frying
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Place flour in a bowl. Add the salt and baking powder. Mix
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Add the eggs and mix with a wooden spoon
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Add the butter and stir
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Finally add the warm water and knead with your hands until the dough is smooth
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Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes
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Meanwhile, cut the cheese into 3/4" sticks
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With a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle, 1/4" thick
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Use a pizza cutter or knife to slice the rectangle into long strips
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One at a time, wrap the cheese stick diagonally using each strip. Make sure that the cheese is completely enrobed. Roll the Tequeño on the table to ensure that the edges are sealed. Repeat with the rest of the cheese and strips
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Heat oil to 350 Degrees F
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Fry 4-5 Tequeños at a time until golden brown. Remove form the oil and drain with a paper towel.
Tequeños can be frozen raw and fried when needed without the thawing them out.
Tequeños can be fried for a few seconds, frozen, and then heated in the toaster oven.
Can they be baked as well?
I’ve tried baking them but the cheese oozes out before the dough has finished cooking so I definitely don’t recommend it
Have you use an air fryer instead of frying them in oil? Thank you!
I’ve never used it in the air fryer – so I do not if the cheese will melt and ooze out before the pastry is completely cooked
Thank you!
I had the same question… Didi you end up trying it in the airfryer?
Airfryer is basically a convection oven. The cheese oozed out before the pastry was completely cooked. I don’t recommend it.
Since you are emphasizing that you don’t recommend the recipe (or tequeños, for that matter), It is obvious that you have never cooked tequeños before.
First off, the cheese oozes out because the tequeño has not been assembled correctly, especially on its ends. The kneading technique is essential to give the dough the perfect properties to keep itself together.
Secondly, the cheese will melt while the dough gets crispy during frying process. Temperature and cooking time are key factors that need to be perfectly balanced while making tequeños.
I hope this information can help you review your procedure to make tequeños.
Hi Marlon! thank you for your comment! assembly of the tequeno is in the video above.
What if you can’t find this cheese? Any other suggestions?
yes! mozzarella