Celebrate Christmas with Venezuelan Flavours

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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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