Would you like to know how to prepare the typical Venezuelan Christmas dishThis is your article! Let the aromas and flavors transport you back to your homeland.
We know that spending these dates outside of Venezuela is always hard. The Christmas is one of the more joyful and magical timesWith family reunions, reunions and celebrations in every corner of our country. And not being there can be very painful.
If you can't seeolver to Venezuela to celebrate the holidaysin Curiara we want to bring you a little piece of Venezuelan land wherever you live. And, the best way to do it is through our delicious gastronomy.
And if there is something that fills the heart, it is to sit down with your loved onesWhether it's new friends you've made or family members you're lucky enough to have living nearby, and enjoy a nice dinner or lunch.
Read on and discover how to prepare the typical Venezuelan Christmas dish that will make you feel as if you were at home.
Also, remember that home is not a place, but a feeling, and that home is not a place, but a feeling. Christmas spirit will always find a way to unite us despite the distance.
Discovering the flavors of the Venezuelan Christmas dish
The Christmas in Venezuela is celebrated in style, and the gastronomy plays a fundamental role in these festivities.
The Christmas dish is the centerpiece of the family dinner, an explosion of flavors and textures that brings everyone together around the table.
This culinary feast is comprised of a variety of typical disheseach with its own history and meaning: hallacas, chicken salad, roasted pork leg and ham bread.
Hallacas
The hallacaswrapped in their distinctive banana leaves, are more than just a simple Christmas dish in Venezuelaare a symbol of icultural identity, tradition and family unity.
Its history dates back to pre-Columbian timeswhen the indigenous peoples similar preparations were made with corn and other local ingredients.
With the arrival of Spaniards and Africans, the hallacas recipe was enriched with new ingredients and culinary techniques, giving rise to the diversity of recipes that we find today in every region of the country.
Its development, which involves a corn dough stuffed with meat, pork or chicken, raisins, olives and other ingredientsis a family tradition that is passed down from generation to generation.
Chicken salad
The chicken saladwith its creamy texture and fresh tasteThe light and refreshing touch that contrasts with the stronger flavors of the hallacas and pernil, making it a perfect companion.
Its history dates back to the beginning of the twentieth centurywhen he was a popular dish in the houses of the Venezuelan families. At that time, it was made with free-range chicken, which gave it an even more intense and authentic flavor.
With the passage of time, the recipe has been evolving and adapting to the new times. The chicken has been replaced in most cases by chicken, which is easier to obtain and more economical.
The following have also been incorporated new ingredients such as peas, apple (which can also be replaced by green grapes) and pineapple in syrup, further enriching the salad.
In addition, this is not only a delicious dishbut it is also loaded with symbolism.
At Venezuela, is associated with the abundance and prosperity, its presence in the Christmas table is an omen of good wishes for the new year.
Roast pork leg
The roasted pork legwith its juicy flesh and smoky flavor, is another indispensable element of the Venezuelan Christmas dish.
Its history dates back to the colonial timeswhen the Spaniards introduced the pig farming in the country.
At that time, the consumption of pork meat was a privilege reserved for the higher social classes, who enjoyed it on special occasions such as the Christmas holidays.
As time went by, the pernil became popular among all social strata, becoming an essential dish in the daily diet. Venezuelan Christmas dish.
Its artisanal elaboration, which involves a process of marinating and slow cooking, makes it an excellent product. delicious and flavorful dish.
Ham bread
The ham bread is more than a simple sandwich; it is a Venezuelan Christmas culinary icon which has conquered palates since its creation at the beginning of the 20th century.
Your history dates back to 1905, in the Ramella bakery located in Caracas, Venezuela.. It is said that Gustavo RamellaItalian-born baker, created this dish as a way of taking advantage of the ham leftovers remaining after the Christmas parties.
The original recipe was simple: bread with sliced ham, olives and raisins, all wrapped in sweet bread dough.
With the passage of time, the ham bread recipe evolved and gained popularity. The following were added new ingredients like bacon, capers and paprikaThe processing technique was perfected.
As we have seen, the Venezuelan Christmas dish is much more than just food.
It is a symbol of family unity, tradition and culture. It is the way in which the Venezuelans honor their roots and celebrate the most special time of the year.
If you have not tried it and have the opportunity to do so, do not hesitate to do so. It is a culinary experience that will transport you to the heart of the Venezuelan Christmas.
Prepare hallacas the easy way
Are you looking forward to eating the hallacas? Here we tell you how to prepare them in a simple and uncomplicated way.
Ingredients
- 2 kg of precooked corn dough
- 1 kg beef
- 1 kg of pork
- 1/2 kg chicken
- 1/2 kg onions
- 1/2 kg of bell peppers
- 250 g sweet peppers
- 250 g stuffed olives
- 250 g raisins
- 250 g capers
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Banana leaves for wrapping
Preparation
- Prepare the stew: Finely chop the onions, bell peppers and sweet peppers. Fry in hot oil until soft. Add the chopped beef, pork and chicken and cook until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, mix the precooked corn dough with warm water until a soft and manageable dough is obtained.
- Assemble the hallacas: Spread a portion of dough on a banana leaf, place a spoonful of stew, olives, raisins and capers. Fold the banana leaf to wrap the hallaca in a rectangle. Repeat the process with the other leaves and the remaining filling.
- Cooking the hallacas: In a large pot, place the hallacas in the bottom and cover with water. Simmer for 3-4 hours, or until the hallacas are firm to the touch.
Chicken salad step by step
Don't miss our recipe for chicken salad! Next to the wonderful Sumito Estevez We will discover how to prepare this marvel, easy to make and even more delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 whole shredded hen
- 4 peeled potatoes
- Carrots
- Onion and cilantro jualiana
- Green apple
- Water with lemon
- Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch of salt
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
- Add in a saucepan the shredded chicken, chopped carrots, julienned onion and cilantro. Leave it for 2 hours.
- Cut the potatoes and carrots in small cubes. Then cook them in the chicken broth. In the meantime, cut the apple and so that it does not oxidize, put it in water with lemon.
- Add mayonnaise, salt, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and mix well. Once it is ready, add the apple, carrots, potatoes and chicken, and that's it!
Ham bread
Do you also love the ham bread? With these simple instructions you can learn how to cook it and enjoy this delicious dish.
Ingredients
- 500 g wheat flour
- 250 ml of warm milk
- 25 g fresh yeast
- 50 g butter
- 50 g sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 500 g sliced ham
- 100 g stuffed olives
- 100 g raisins
- 1 egg for painting
Preparation
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk. Add the butter, sugar, egg and salt. Mix well.
- Gradually incorporate the flourKnead until the dough is smooth and elastic. Let the dough rest in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it doubles its volume.
- Roll out the dough: Roll out the dough on a floured surface in the shape of a rectangle. The size should be enough to cover the ham slices.
- Place the filling: Distribute the ham slices over the dough, leaving a free edge at the ends. Sprinkle the olives and raisins over the ham.
- Roll the bread: Carefully roll the dough, pressing lightly so that the filling is compact. Seal the ends well.
- Shape the bread: Shape the ham loaf into a log and place it on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
- Paint the bread: Beat the egg and paint the surface of the ham loaf with a brush.
- Baking bread: Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Bake the ham bread for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown and the dough is cooked.
Roast pork leg
And to complete the recipe of the Venezuelan Christmas dishHere is how to prepare the roasted pork leg and that it is delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 pork leg
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 garlic or tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Dried plums
- White onion
- Panela syrup
Preparation
- In a large bowl, Add the orange juice, white onion, oregano, garlic, salt, black pepper, paprika and dried plums. Blend everything until the sauce is very thick.
- Place the pork leg on a baking sheet. and cover with the sauce.
- Preheat the oven to 160 °C. Bake the pork leg for 1-2 hours per kilo of meat, or until the meat is tender and browned.
- Let it cool and paint it with panela syrup. Preheat oven to 200 º C and bake the pork leg for 20 minutes.
And now all that's left is to enjoy!
The Venezuelan cuisineas you have observed, it is a cultural treasure which manifests itself with particular intensity during the Christmas parties.
The Venezuelan Christmas dishwith its iconic hallacasthe succulent chicken salad, juicy pork leg and the irresistible ham bread, is an ode to the traditions and family unity.
From Curiara we encourage you to prepare this feast of flavors and traditions, and to have a good time cooking with your family and friends.
Bring a little bit of your traditions to your new home and enjoy the variety of flavors of our gastronomy.
Also, if you are missing any of the ingredients we have mentioned, don't miss our article on products from Venezuela that you can find in the United States and where to buy them.
