Venezuelan cuisine

Due to its location in the world, its diversity of industrial resources and the cultural diversity of the Venezuelan people, Venezuelan cuisine often varies greatly from one region to another. Its cuisine, traditional as well as modern, is influenced by indigenous peoples and its European ancestry[1] (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French), and is also influenced by African and Native American traditions. Food staples include corn, rice, plantain, yams, beans and several meats.[1]

The most common foods by region can be broadly classified as follows:

Potatoes, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, eggplants, squashes and zucchini (commonly called "calabacines") are common sides to the Venezuelan diet.

Contents

Main dishes

  • Arepa
  • Asado negro
  • Bistec a caballo
  • Bollo pelón
  • Cachapa - Maize bread.
  • Cachitos - de jamón, similar to French croissants
  • Caraotas negras (black beans)
  • Chicharrón
  • Chivo en coco - a generous serving of shredded goat cooked in coconut milk, topped with mofongo (fried, mashed green bananas).
  • Chupe Andino
  • Corbullón de mero
  • Empanada
  • Pastelito
  • Ensalada de pollo - Chicken salad.
  • Lengua de Res - Cow tongue "a la vinagretta" (in a vinaigrette)
  • Mandoca
  • Mondongo (Tripe).
  • Ñoquis - Potato pasta, more prominent in the Central region.
  • Hallaca - typical Christmas dish.
  • Hervido de gallina - Hen soup
  • Pabellón criollo - Creole pavilion, the National dish.
  • Pastel de pollo
  • Pasticho - the Venezuelan version of lasagna; from the Italian pasticcio[2]
  • Patacones
  • Perico
  • Pescado sudado
  • Pisca Andina - soup commonly served in the Andes
  • Pisillo de chigüire
  • Polenta - it is also known as "Funche" in some areas of the country.
  • Sancocho de pescado
  • Sopa de rabo
  • Torta de plátano - cake made with plantains

Typical snacks

Beverages

Breads

Cheeses

  • Queso de Año
  • Queso de Bola relleno
  • Queso de Cabra
  • Queso de Mano
  • Queso Guayanes
  • Queso Telita
  • Queso Paisa
  • Queso Parmesano
  • Cuajada andina
  • Queso Palmizulia
  • Queso Clineja - Venezuelan slang. RAE (Crizneja)

Desserts

  • Bienmesabe
  • Besitos de coco - small and round coconut candy
  • Cannoli - often called "cannoli siciliano"
  • Conserva de coco
  • Conserva de guayaba
  • Dulce de leche - A solid version made in Coro.
  • Dulce de lechosa
  • Majarete
  • Mousse de chocolate
  • Pudín de chocolate - Chocolate pudding.
  • Quesillo - Local-style caramel flan.
  • Brazo gitano - Spanish rolled cake, also "pionono"
  • Profiterol
  • Torta de queso - Cheese cake

Cakes

  • Marquesa de almendras - Almond marquise.
  • Torta Burrera
  • Torta de jojoto - Corn Cake
  • Torta de pan - Bread cake.
  • Torta negra
  • Torta de auyama - Pumpkin cake.
  • Torta Mil Hojas
  • Torta Tres Leches
  • Bienmesabe - made with coconut and meringue

Other foods

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Kohnstamm, Thomas; Kohn, Beth. "Venezuela." Lonely Planet. Accessed October 2011.
  2. ^ Romero, Aldemaro (21 June 1998). "Pasticho". notitarde.com (Spanish). http://200.44.123.155/1998/06/21/opinion/aldemaro_romero/index.html. Retrieved 2006-04-28. 

External links