The golfeados are one of those flavours that, if you are Venezuelan, automatically transport you home and remind you of special moments.
And this delicious sweet bread spiral, covered with honeydew newsprint and topped with a salty touch of cheeseis a real jewel of the Venezuelan bakery.
The simple fact of remembering its aroma fresh from the oven makes us salivate and fills us with nostalgiaespecially if you are living outside Venezuela.
If this is your case and you are currently living in SpainIt may seem complicated to recreate that recipe we miss so much, as some ingredients are not easy to obtain.
However, it is not impossible. With a little creativity and a few substitutes that you can find at the local supermarkets, is completely feasible enjoy some homemade golfeados with all the flavour you remember.
Therefore, in this article, we will tell you how to prepare step by step your own home golfeadosusing ingredients available in Spain and achieving that authentic taste you miss so much.
Let's get started!
A journey through the history of golfeados
The golfeados are part of the Venezuelan culinary cultureThe EU has been a member of the European Union for many decades.
This sweet and fluffy breadwith its characteristic spiral shape, was born in Caracasin a small bakery in the 1940s.
The creators were two brothers who wanted to offer something different, a bread that wouldombines sweet and savoury in a delicious and unique way. And they did, the golfeados quickly became a success.
What makes it so special is the flavour mix. The soft, slightly sweet dough is rolled into a spiral shape and filled with papier-melon honeydewThe unrefined sugar gives it that characteristic caramelised touch.
But the detail that sets them apart from other sweet breads is the hand cheesea Venezuelan cheese which provides a perfect salty contrast.
Over time, the golfeados were becoming more and more most popular, not only in Caracasbut throughout the country.
You can find them in bakeries in almost every corner of the world. Venezuelaand they are always a perfect accompaniment to a good coffee or, better still, a lemon paprika.
Although every baker has his or her own touch, the essence of golfeado has remained intact: a bread that combines the sweet, savoury and aromatic flavour of the aniseedcreating a true experience for the palate.
Today, the golfeados have crossed borders and, even though you are far away from Venezuela, there are always ways to bring that flavour to your table.
Read on and we'll tell you how to prepare them at home, even if you're in Spain!
Ingredients needed and how to find them in Spain
Make golfeados at home can seem like a challenge if you are far from Venezuelabut don't worry, in Spain there are many ingredients that you can use as substitutes without losing the authentic taste.
Here we'll tell you everything you need and how you can adapt it so that your golfeados are perfect.
Flour
The flour is key to the The sweetened biscuits will be fluffy.
At Venezuelais used normal wheat flour, but in Spain we recommend that you use strong flour.
This flour has a little more glutenThis will make the dough rise better and be fluffier. You can easily find it in supermarkets such as Mercadona, Carrefour o Lidl.
Paper
The newsprint is essential to give it that sweet and caramelised flavour of the golfeados.
At Spain, find newsprint can be tricky, but don't worry, you can substitute it with panelawhich is quite similar and is sold in shops specialising in Latin products or even in some supermarkets.
Another option is to use brown sugar mixed with a little bit of honey or molassesThis will also give you a result very similar to the original.
Hand cheese
The hand cheese is a unique ingredient of the golfeadosbut it is not easy to find outside Venezuela. However, in Spain you can use various types of cheese that resemble it.
The fresh cheese Spanish is a good option, or you can also try with fresh mozzarella which has a smooth texture and melts well.
If you prefer something more savoury, the soft feta cheese or cottage cheese can add an interesting touch to your golfeados.
But, if you want it to be hand cheese and not another similar one, you can always find it at shops specialising in Latin productsas Send it Maket.
Yeast
The yeast you need for the golfeados is the bakery drywhich can be obtained in a very simple way.
Just make sure to activate it well in warm water with a little sugar before mixing it with the flour, so that the dough will rise properly.
Other ingredients
To complete the recipe, you will also need butter, sugar, salt, and one very important thing: aniseed..
The aniseed gives the characteristic aroma to the golfeados. You can find it in the form of seeds or ground in supermarkets. Don't skip it, because that's what gives it the special touch!
With these ingredients, you'll be ready to start making your own golfeados at home. As you can see, with a few adjustments you can perfectly recreate the taste you miss so much.
How to prepare delicious golfeados step by step
Make golfeados may seem complicated at first, but once you get started, you'll see that it's not that difficult. Let's get started!
Preparation of the dough
The first thing we will make is the dough, which is the basis of our golfeados. For this, you will need:
- 500 g of strong flour
- 7 g dry baker's yeast
- 100 g sugar
- 50 g butter (at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 200 ml lukewarm water
- 1 teaspoon anise seeds (or ground anise)
Then, in a small bowl, Mix the yeast with a little warm water. (not too hot, just lukewarm) and a teaspoon sugar.
Let stand for a few minutes. 10 minutes until you see it start to bubble. This means that the yeast is activated.
Then, in a large bowl, Mix the flour with the sugar, salt and anise seeds.. Make a well in the centre and add the egg, the activated yeast and the rest of the lukewarm water.
Start kneading everything together, either by hand or with a hook mixer, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
When the dough is ready, add the butter at room temperature. Continue kneading until the butter is fully integrated into the dough.
Place the dough in a clean bowl, cover it with a cloth or cling film, and let it rest in a warm place for one hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Preparation of paprika molasses
While the dough is resting, we are going to prepare the honeydewwhich is what will give you that sweet and sticky touch to the golfeados. You will need:
- 150 g of grated papelón or panela (or brown sugar)
- 100 ml water
- 1 teaspoon anise seeds
In a small saucepan, mix the grated paprika (or panela) with the water and aniseed.
Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the newsprint melts completely and a thick syrup is formed. When ready, remove from the heat and leave to cool.
Assembly of the golfeados
Now that you have the dough ready and the melado prepared, it's time to put together the golfeados.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough with a rolling pin into a large rectangle, about half a centimetre thick.
With a brush or a spoon, spread the surface of the dough with the paprika melt you prepared. Be sure to leave a little bit of honeydew for later, which we will use at the end.
Spread the fresh cheese (or mozzarella) crumbled all over the dough. The amount depends on your taste, but be generous to achieve that sweet-salty contrast.
Carefully begin to roll out the dough from one of the long sidesForm a long, tight roll, as if you were making a cinnamon roll.
Once you have the roll, cut out pieces of about 4 cm thick with a sharp knife. Place the golfeadoPlace the slices on a baking sheet, cut side up.
Baking
Place the tray with the golfeados in the oven and bake for a few minutes. 20-25 minutesor until golden brown and cooked inside.
When the golfeados come out of the oven, spread a little more honeydew on them. to make them shiny and with that extra sweet touch.
And that's it! Your homemade golfeados are ready to enjoy. You can eat them lukewarm, accompanied by a good coffee, or save them for later.
With this step-by-step, you will see what to do golfeados at home is easier than it looks, and the best thing is that you will have the a taste of Venezuela in every bite.
Flavours that take you to Venezuela
Being away from home is never easy. When you live away from home, you start to miss a lot of things that used to be part of your everyday life.
It is not only the physical distance that weighs heavily, but also the absence of what connected you to your homeland: the moments shared with your family and friends. friends and family, the festivitiesthe streets you used to walk and, of course, the food.
The Venezuelan cuisine, with its unique and traditional flavours, is one of the most important emotional links with our culture.
Nothing compares to enjoying a arepa hot, a fluffy golfeado or a good plate of creole pavilionfood that reminds us of home.
At CuriaraWe know all too well how difficult it is to be far from Venezuela, especially when you miss those foods that not only fill your stomach, but also your heart.
For this reason, we wanted to bring you a little piece of our land, helping you to recreate some of our typical dishes.
We know that by preparing and savouring these recipes, you can feel closer to home, reliving those special moments you shared around the table.
Also, if you liked this recipe for golfeadosWe invite you to explore more of our blog. For example, you can't miss our article about the sweet arepa and how to prepare it.
It's another delight that, with every bite, will transport you back to Venezuela, making you feel that, even if you are far away, you can always take a little piece of home with you.
Curiara, uniting families.
