Latin Cuisine
20130807-262121-tequenos.jpg

With a rich pastry crust wrapped around salty queso blanco, these Venezuelan cheese sticks put their mozzarella brethren to shame. [Photographs: Joshua Bousel]

About the author: Joshua Bousel brings you new, tasty condiment each Wednesday and a recipe for weekend grilling every Friday. He also writes about grilling and barbecue on his blog The Meatwave whenever he can be pulled away from his grill.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: 14 tequeños
Active time: 45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Special equipment: Food processor

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 6 tablespoons cold water, plus more as needed
  • 12 ounces queso blanco or queso de frier, cut into slices 1/2-inch x 1/2-inch x 2 1/2-inch
  • Peanut oil, for frying

Procedures

  1. Place flour and salt in the workbowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade; pulse to combine. Sprinkle butter evenly over flour and pulse until butter is cut into pieces slightly smaller than a pea, about 8 1-second pulses. Transfer dough to a large bowl.

  2. Add in egg and water. Using a rubber spatula, press dough against side of bowl until it forms into a ball. If dough is not fully forming, add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time until it comes together. Press dough into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

  3. Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll out into a square 1/8-inch thick. Cut off edges to create a 12-inch square. Cut square into strips 3/4-inch wide.

  4. Take one strip of dough and drape end over top of one cheese slice. Wrap entire cheese slice in dough on a diagonal, overlapping dough. Cover bottom of cheese slice in dough and pinch edges close to fully seal. Repeat with remaining cheese slices.

  5. Fill a cast iron skillet with 3/4-inch of oil. Heat oil to 400°F over high heat. Place tequeños in oil and fry until crust is golden brown and blistery, 3 to 5 minutes, turning halfway through. Transfer tequeños to a paper towel lined plate, let cool for 1 to 2 minutes, then serve immediately.