Tequeño is a fried spear of wheat dough stuffed with semi-hard queso blanco (fresh cheese), and is a popular meal or snack in Venezuela.[1] To prepare it, the dough is wrapped around a cheesestick, formed into a breadstick and then fried or sometimes oven-baked. Tequeños can be eaten for breakfast, as an appetizer, or as a snack at parties and weddings.[2] October 21 is the International Tequeño Day, and it was declared a cultural heritage of Venezuela on April 20 2023.[3]
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| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Course | Snack |
| Place of origin | Venezuela |
| Main ingredients | Bread dough, masa de harina de trigo, queso blanco |
Due to the influx of Venezuelan immigrants in their countries over the past few years, it has become increasingly popular in Spain and Argentina, among other countries.[4][5][6]
On October 21 2023, in Los Teques, a tequeño of 15.3 m (50.2 ft) was made to commemorate the city's 246th anniversary, beating the previous Guinness World Record of 5 m (16.4 ft). The dish required a 18 m fryer and 32 kitchen assistants to prepare it.[7]
Origin
editAlthough its exact origin is unknown, the most popular explanation is that it was invented in Los Teques. Some dispute that its origins lie in Caracas.
Los Teques
editOne of the most widely accepted versions is that they were invented by the Báez sisters, who lived in Los Teques, in 1912. They named their improvised creation “quesitos enrollados” (little rolled up cheeses) and started to sell them in the city and, after some time even sold them in Caracas where they gained great popularity.[8] Another version says that some time in the XIX century an affluent family was vacationing in Los Teques, and one of their cooks served them this dish, which they named tequeños in honor of the town.[1][2]
Caracas
editSome believe that it actually dates back to the 1700s in the now gone neighborhood of El Teque in Caracas.[2]
Variations
edit
Traditional tequeños are filled with semi-hard cheese; however, people often make and sell them with many different varieties of fillings. Some of the most popular fillings include: gouda, chocolate, cheese and bocadillo de guayaba, cheese and chocolate, ricotta and spinach, cheese and ham, and even chorizo in some markets in Spain.[9] They are also consumed by themselves or accompanied by a dipping sauce.[10] A few variations even have their own names:
- Tequeñón, a bigger version of the traditional tequeño.[11] It is offered as a breakfast option in some schools.[12]
- Tequeyoyos, believed to have originated in the state of Zulia, are filled with cheese and ripe plantains.[6]
- Tequeños de jojoto, popular in Carabobo and thought to have been invented at a small business in La Entrada, are made with a corn dough similar to that of the cachapa.[13]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b Cartay, Rafael (2016). Diccionario de cocina venezolana. Alfa. p. 187. ISBN 9788416687732.
- ^ a b c "Tequeños made in Caracas". elestimulo.com (in Spanish). 2 December 2014. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ^ Bernal, Azael (20 April 2023). "El tequeño es Patrimonio Cultural de Venezuela". El carabobeño.
- ^ Gómez, Daniel. "Este empresario convierte a los tequeños venezolanos en un snack de fama mundial". Alnavío - Noticias de ida y vuelta (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-23.
- ^ Pico, Luis (2021-12-03). "La fábrica que populariza los tequeños en Argentina". El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ a b "Teque Pops: "El triunfo del tequeño en Argentina era solo cuestión de tiempo" | Bienmesabe". elestimulo.com (in Spanish). 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ González, Tahiana (2023-10-31). "Récord Guinness reconoció al tequeño de Los Teques como el más largo del mundo". El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "Los Teques rompe récord Guinness con el tequeño más largo del mundo | Bienmesabe". elestimulo.com (in Spanish). 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "El tequeño es declarado Patrimonio Cultural de Venezuela". La patilla. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ Barreto, Ramón (2022-09-09). "Tequeños venezolanos: todo sobre esa delicia callejera que debes probar". Vogue (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ Uricare, Joy (2021-10-24). "¿Cuál es el precio de la comida y otros productos dentro del Estadio Universitario de Caracas?". El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ Cruz Sánchez, Ernesto Elías de la; Hidalgo Jiménez, María Elena; Rojas, Albino (2009). "Experiencias pedagógicas en educación alimentaria y nutricional y la promoción de la salud, en instituciones educativas del Estado Miranda-Venezuela". Revista de Comunicación de la SEECI. 12 (19): 39–59. ISSN 1576-3420.
- ^ "La Entrada, Carabobo". El Universal (in Spanish). 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
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