Tequeños are going to be a memorable addition to your collection of appetizer recipes.
So, as the story goes, a 15-year-old girl was the inventor of this fun finger food. The name tequeños likely derives from the people of Los Teques in Venezuela, where the girl lived. What’s even more amazing than her creation of a culinary hit, is that this girl had her own pastry business, and used leftover dough to create the first tequeños.
The dish became so popular that it was favored by the many wealthy tourists who frequented Caracas. Apparently crowds of people waited for the train from Los Teques, carrying these treats. The girl’s idea was a sensational success! It has become a national dish for Venezuela and is served at every party in the country, or else it’s not considered a party!
You’re going to love how special these are. They will only take a bit of practice before you are preparing them as efficiently as a Venezuelan grandma, and what fun to sample the results of your experiments! It’s also possible to customize them with bits of dried or chopped fresh herbs or even minced vegetables, especially garlic and onion.
Other finger foods to try as appetizers or small plates for your next gathering include Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers, whose heat would go very well next to these mild tequeños. You could also try Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. Or Tempeh Bites as a great vegan option.
Are Tequeños Healthy?
As tequeños are a fun but occasional deep-fried food, their healthfulness would be subjective. The cheese will provide protein for a satiated feeling, and calcium for strong bones and teeth. To make them healthier, try baking them at 350° F instead of deep frying. Some folks (me, for one) prefer them baked! Less clean-up, and less fat. Win-win in my book. They are meant to be a fun part of an overall healthy diet, if consumed in moderation. The dipping sauces to accompany them can be quite healthy, especially if avocado is included in the preparation.
Cheeses to try in Tequeños…
Traditionally, a semi-soft white cheese is used to create tequeños. Also called queso blanco, it seems to be readily available these days. Any cheese, like queso blanco, using heat and acid in its creation doesn’t really melt during cooking, but just gets soft. That’s exactly what we want for tequeños. Paneer cheese will give similar results to queso blanco. Just be aware, cheese may leak out of your beautiful creations if you haven’t sealed the dough well enough.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 16 oz semi-soft white cheese, cut into 1/2-inch thick sticks
- Vegetable oil for frying
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix
Combine dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, and knead to form dough.
Wrap
Roll out dough, cut into strips, and wrap cheese sticks.
Fry
Deep fry until golden and drain on paper towels.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
These are best served hot and fresh but they can be prepared up to 2 days before cooking, and kept in the fridge. They can also be assembled and frozen individually on a sheet pan and then in a bag or container for up to 3 months before cooking. They can be fried directly from the freezer, so that seems like the ideal method—make a big batch, and then cook when needed. It’s possible to store them tightly covered in the fridge for up to 2 days after cooking, then reheat in a 350° F oven until heated through, about 10 minutes.
You’d need to use a semi-soft vegan cheese, as well as dairy-free butter, but it’s certainly doable! The labels on any given vegan cheese will tell you if it’s a meltable cheese or not. Choose the non-meltable option!
To make your tequeños gluten-free, use an all-purpose gluten-free flour for your dough – although results from gluten-free flour are never exactly the same as the standard wheat flour version. For instance, they may not get very brown, but they will still be very delicious! Baking the gluten-free tequeños at 350° F for 12-15 minutes will also work, instead of deep frying.
First, be sure your work surface is well-floured. Plus, a dusting of flour on top of the rolled-out dough won’t hurt, either. Work with half of the dough at a time, and place the other half in the fridge until needed. Roll the dough to about the same thickness as a pie crust or slightly thinner. Use a pizza wheel to cut your strips. Place the cheese at a 45° angle near, not at, the end of the strip, so you can have enough dough to seal the end. Wrap tightly, not leaving any gaps. Keep a small bowl of water nearby to dip your fingers into, to help seal up the ends.
Serving Suggestions
You’ll want a selection of fun and tasty sauces to dip your tequeños into! Try this Best Guacamole Recipe Ever, or this classic Onion Ring Sauce. If you’d like a ranch option, this Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix Recipe is the way to go.
For more South-American-inspired recipes, take a look at this one for Peruvian Octopus Ceviche, this one for Huevos Pericos, and finish up with this Brazilian Caipirinha Cocktail.
Tequeños Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 16 oz semi-soft white cheese cut into 1/2-inch thick sticks
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder.
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Incorporate the egg and melted butter into the dry ingredients.
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Gradually add warm water and knead the mixture until a smooth dough forms.
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Cover the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes.
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Roll out the dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into strips.
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Wrap each cheese stick with a strip of dough, sealing the edges well.
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Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F.
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Fry the tequeños in batches until golden brown, then drain on paper towels.
Nutrition
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