Celebrate Christmas with Venezuelan Flavours
Welcome to our festive South American culinary journey!
As the holiday season approaches, we're excited to share with you the warmth and richness of Venezuelan Christmas traditions through three iconic recipes: Pan de Jamón, Torta Negra and Alfajores!
These dishes are not just food; they are a celebration of culture, family, and the joyous spirit of the season.
PAN DE JAMÓN
A savory bread filled with ham, bacon, olives, and raisins, represents the fusion of flavors that is so characteristic of Venezuelan cuisine. It's a staple at every Christmas table, uniting families around its delicious and comforting taste.
TORTA NEGRA
On the other hand, the torta negra is a rich, fruit-laden cake that's been a part of Venezuelan Christmas traditions for generations. Its deep flavors of rum-soaked fruits, spices, and gorgeous chocolate make it a luxurious treat.
ALFAJORES
Although Alfajores are eaten not only for Christmas, these indulgent melt-in-your-mouth sandwich biscuits will complement and bring a premium touch to your festive desserts table!
Whether you're familiar with these traditional dishes or exploring them for the first time, our step-by-step recipes will guide you through creating these festive treats.
Let's bring a slice of Venezuelan Christmas to your home and make this holiday season unforgettable!
Pan de Jamón: Venezuelan Christmas Bread
Ingredients:
1. Dough:
- 500 grams of flour
- 10 grams of salt
- 50 grams of sugar
- 10 grams of instant yeast
- 250 ml of warm milk
- 50 grams of unsalted butter, melted
- 1 egg
2. Filling:
- 250 grams of sliced ham (we LOVE the triple smoked one!)
- 150 grams of bacon
- 150 grams of pitted green olives, sliced
- 100 grams of raisins
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Dough:
- Add lukewarm milk, sugar and yeast in a small bowl. Let it ferment for 20 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, egg and melted butter together with the milk mix.
- Knead until a smooth dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
2. Assemble the Bread:
- Roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1 cm thick.
- Layer the ham slices, then sprinkle over the bacon, olives, and raisins.
- Roll the dough tightly from one end to form a log. Seal the edges.
- Proof for an hour
3. Bake:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Place the roll on a baking sheet, seam side down. Brush with a beaten egg.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Let it cool before slicing.
Torta Negra: A Rich Venezuelan Christmas Cake
Ingredients:
- 250 grams of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 200 grams of unsalted butter, softened
- 200 grams of brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon of molasses (or melted panela)
- 500 grams of mixed dried fruits (raisins, prunes, candied orange peel)
- 125 ml of rum
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Fruit Mixture:
- In a bowl, combine dried fruits with rum. Let it soak overnight.
2. Make the Cake Batter:
- Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Grease and flour a cake pan.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
- In a separate bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add egg yolks one at a time, then molasses and orange zest.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
- Fold in the rum-soaked fruits and egg whites.
3. Bake the Cake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for about 2 hours, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Our Loved Alfajores
Last but not least, we have a dedicated section for our loved Alfajores including recipe and instructions.
Enjoy these traditional Venezuelan treats and bring a taste of Christmas to your home!
Oh, and remember to share your creations, we love to see them coming.
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