Venezuela is not only a place with magnificent natural zones and an ideal destination for
backpackers on a budget.
This South American country has an outstanding culinary tradition perfect for any foodie
traveller.
Venezuelan cuisine has European, African and Native American influences that make its dishes
unique.
There are a lot of myths surrounding Venezuelan cuisine.
Since there is a food shortage at the moment, the locals have had to improvise and cook
simpler versions of their traditional dishes, but that doesn’t mean the food is not delicious!
Also, with the exchange rates it is really affordable to get yourself a meal worthy of
a king.
So read on and try not to salivate too much while you are having a look at some of the
best dishes of Venezuelan food.
1.
Arepas Venezuelan cuisine is incredibly rich and
diverse, but, as the popular saying goes: “There’s nothing more Venezuelan than
an arepa”.
Arepas are these sort of small pitas made with corn flour and filled with a variety
of ingredients.
Beans, cheese, rice, pork, eggs…
It depends on the region and the creativity of the cook (or, sometimes, the leftovers
in the fridge).
You can eat them as a main dish or as a side and they are perfect for breakfast, lunch
or even dinner!
2.
Pabellón Criollo Yeah, arepas might be popular, but when it
comes to a truly patriotic meal, Pabellón Criollo is the quintessence of Venezuelan
cuisine.
It consists of super juicy pulled beef, spicy rice and black beans.
Also, to really get that Venezuelan flavour, you can serve it with plantains or a fried
egg on top.
It is mouth-watering!
3.
Cachitos Cachitos are basically Venezuelan croissants.
When Lilia, my friend from Caracas, let me crash at her place for a couple of days, I
loved waking up to the smell of the buttery, freshly baked pastry.
She fed me with tons of Venezuelan tasty bits, but these cheesy babies were my favourites.
Cachitos are crescent-shaped bread rolls filled with ham and cheese.
They have a crispy outside, but they are soft and fluffy on the inside.
Venezuelans eat them for breakfast and they are the perfect quick bite for busy mornings.
4.
Mandoca Who doesn’t like deep fried stuff?
Especially when it involves cheese!
This Venezuelan snack has some sweet and salty flavours to please every palate.
Made with cornmeal and plantains, mandocas are a breakfast classic in Venezuela.
After all, who needs healthy when you can have delicious instead?.
They are shaped like a weird pretzel and served with butter or queso blanco cheese (or both).
Mandocas are super rich and filling, so only a couple of them will keep you going for most
of the day!
5.
Perico Another breakfast favourite.
This Venezuelan dish adds a bit of a South-American influence to the world-loved scrambled eggs.
Perico mixes fresh eggs with tomatoes, onions and green peppers.
You can also add some bacon or ham if you want a more “meaty” dish.
Perico can be eaten inside an arepa or a bun, although I enjoy it on its own, because it
really brings out the mix of flavours.
Also, it is an outstanding food to cure the hangover.
Don’t ask me how I know this.
I just do.
Next time you are not feeling so well after a crazy night out, give Perico a try and let
me know how it goes.
6.
Pasticho Some Venezuelan recipes have Italian influence,
so it is not surprising that they call this dish the “Lasagna of Venezuela”.
Pasticho is made with thin layers of pasta and blended with meat, tomato and cheese.
It may sound like your typical lasagna, but the difference lies in the mix of spices they
use to really kick up the flavour and the bechamel sauce that makes it extra creamy.
Muy caliente!
7.
Cocada Cocada is, without a doubt, one of my favourite
Venezuelan beverages.
Half a smoothie, half a dessert, this is a classic beverage that can be found in many
street stalls.
The preparation method varies and they are still debating which is the authentic Venezuelan
recipe.
Some people say that a true cocada consists only of soft coconut pulp and coconut water.
Others prefer to add milk to the mixture, but the bold ones combine it with vanilla
ice cream or condensed milk to make it super sweet.
I’ve had several of these versions and let me tell you, all of them are delicious.
Just add a pineapple slice and a bit of cinnamon of top and you are good to go, amigo!
8.
Tizana There’s nothing better to fight the warm
weather than this fresh, fruity Venezuelan drink.
Tizana is similar to fruit punch and, just like cocadas, they can be found on street
stalls or be prepared at home.
The fruit mix depends on your creativity, but it usually contains watermelon, plums,
apples, peaches and melons cut in tiny cubes.
This is all mixed with lime, grapefruit, orange and pineapple juice and blend it with sugar,
cinnamon, grenadine and crushed ice.
To make it even more refreshing, you can incorporate a tiny bit (or a lot) of gin or rum and create
the perfect Venezuelan cocktail.
9.
Dulce de leche
This post couldn’t be completed without some of the best Venezuelan desserts.
It is hard to explain Dulce de Leche to foreigners, because it is not common outside Latin America.
However I’d dare to say that this sweet is like the Nutella for the Latino countries.
Also called arequipe, Dulce de Leche is a sort of milk caramel that you can put on toast,
bread or eat directly from a spoon (although that might just be me).
The condensed milk is cooked until it gets a brown, thick and gooey consistency.
Venezuelans tend to spread it on thin waffles or add a bit of lemon juice.
I know it sounds weird, but I promise the final result is delicious!
10.
Quesillo I love savoury Venezuelan dishes, but, for
me, this is the best dish in the country.
I admit I have a sweet tooth, but how can you not love this creamy, caramel delight?
Quesillo is similar to Spanish and Mexican flan.
However, the Venezuelan recipe uses the whole egg instead of the yolk, so it makes it even
creamier and less watery.
Quesillo has a texture similar to pudding, just firmer and more consistent.
Additionally, it has a delicious caramel sauce at the top that makes my mouth water by just
writing about it.
So, there you go.
Venezuelan cooking is incredibly varied, exotic and delicious.
It has so many tasty dishes that it was hard to write a list with only ten elements.
Don’t get deceived by the common misconceptions about the country and make sure to visit it
if you ever get the chance.
Once there, don’t miss the chance to try some of the best restaurants to have a taste
of real Venezuelan cuisine.