Discovering Venezuelan Cuisine Through Its Tourist Destinations

Venezuela is a country with a rich and varied cuisine, influenced by its unique geography, climate, and its history of colonization by the Spanish and Portuguese. From the tropical coastal regions to the highlands of the Andes, there is a wide range of dishes to explore. In this blog post, we’ll take a tour of Venezuela’s culinary delights, discovering the unique flavours and ingredients of each region that make it so special.

The Capital, Caracas

The capital city of Caracas is the first stop on our Venezuelan culinary tour. This is where you’ll find some of the best traditional Venezuelan dishes, such as arepas, cachapas, and pabellón criollo. Arepas are corn flour flatbreads, usually filled with cheese, vegetables, or meat. Cachapas are a type of pancake made with sweet corn and cheese. Pabellón criollo is a popular dish consisting of black beans, rice, and shredded beef, served with plantains and a fried egg on top.

Another must-try dish in Caracas is the national dish of the country, the hallaca. This is a corn flour dough filled with meat, olives, and other ingredients, then wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled. It’s served with sauces such as guasacaca and ají dulce, both of which are made with peppers and other spices.

Caracas is also home to some of the best street food in the country. The most popular street food dish is the arepa rellena, a deep-fried arepa filled with cheese, beans, and other ingredients. Other popular street food dishes include empanadas, cachapas, and tequeños, which are deep-fried pastries filled with cheese.

The Coast, Maracay

Maracay is a coastal city in northern Venezuela, known for its seafood. Here, you’ll find a variety of traditional dishes such as cazón en salsa verde, which is a shark dish cooked in a green sauce. Another popular dish is chivo guisado, a stew made with goat meat, potatoes, and spices. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, try pescado encocado, a fish dish cooked in coconut milk and spices.

Seafood is also a main ingredient in some of the most popular dishes in Maracay, such as cazón en salsa, where the shark is cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. Other seafood dishes include mojito de camarones, a shrimp dish cooked in a citrus-based sauce, and caracoles a la vinagreta, a shellfish dish cooked in a vinaigrette sauce.

Maracay is also home to some of the best traditional desserts in the country. The most popular is bienmesabe, a cake made with ground almonds, sugar, and eggs. Other traditional desserts include quesillo, a custard-like dessert made with eggs and cream, and alfajor, a shortbread cookie with a filling of dulce de leche.

The Andes, Mérida

Mérida is a city located in the Andes Mountains in western Venezuela. Here, you’ll find dishes inspired by the unique climate and geography of the area. Popular dishes include asado negro, a beef stew cooked with onions, garlic, and black beans, and reina pepiada, a sandwich made with chicken, avocado, and mayonnaise.

Another must-try dish in Mérida is pabellón criollo, a combination of rice, black beans, and shredded beef served with plantains and a fried egg. Other popular dishes include sancocho de gallina, a stew made with chicken and vegetables, and caraotas, a type of black bean stew.

If you’re looking for something sweet, try the traditional Venezuelan dessert borrachera. This is a sponge cake soaked in rum and topped with meringue and caramel. Other traditional desserts include tres leches, a sponge cake made with three kinds of milk, and pan de hielo, a type of ice cream cake.

The Amazon Basin, Puerto Ayacucho

Puerto Ayacucho is located in the Amazon basin, in the south of Venezuela. Here, you’ll find dishes that make use of the region’s unique plant-based ingredients. Popular dishes include yucca con carne, a stew made with cassava and beef, and caraotas, a black bean stew.

Another must-try dish in Puerto Ayacucho is tajadas, which are fried plantains served with a variety of toppings, such as cheese, beans, or meat. Other popular dishes include sancocho de gallina, which is a stew made with chicken and vegetables, and arroz con coco, which is a rice dish cooked in coconut milk and spices.

For dessert, try boronía, a traditional Venezuelan cake made with plantain and coconut. Other traditional desserts include quesillo, a custard-like dessert made with eggs and cream, and pan de guayaba, a type of guava cake.

The Caribbean, Margarita Island

Margarita Island is a Caribbean island located off the coast of Venezuela. Here, you’ll find dishes inspired by the island’s maritime heritage, such as cazón en salsa, which is a shark dish cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. Other popular dishes include caracoles a la vinagreta, a shellfish dish cooked in a vinaigrette sauce, and pescado encocado, a fish dish cooked in coconut milk and spices.

Margarita Island is also home to some of the best seafood dishes in the country. Popular dishes include mojito de camarones, a shrimp dish cooked in a citrus-based sauce, and cazón encebollado, a shark dish cooked with onions, garlic, and spices. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, try the traditional Venezuelan dish sancocho de pescado, a fish stew made with vegetables and spices.

For dessert, try cocadas, a traditional Venezuelan sweet made with coconut. Other traditional desserts include bienmesabe, a cake made with ground almonds, sugar, and eggs, and alfajor, a shortbread cookie with a filling of dulce de leche.

The Islands, Los Roques

Los Roques is an archipelago located in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela. Here, you’ll find dishes influenced by the region’s unique seafood and tropical fruits. Popular dishes include cazón en salsa, a shark dish cooked in a spicy tomato sauce, and caracoles a la vinagreta, a shellfish dish cooked in a vinaigrette sauce.

Other popular dishes include pescado encocado, a fish dish cooked in coconut milk and spices, and mojito de camarones, a shrimp dish cooked in a citrus-based sauce. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, try sancocho de pescado, a fish stew made with vegetables and spices.

For dessert, try borrachera, a sponge cake soaked in rum and topped with meringue and caramel. Other traditional desserts include quesillo, a custard-like dessert made with eggs and cream, and pan de hielo, a type of ice cream cake.

The Highlands, Barinas

Barinas is a city located in the highlands of Venezuela. Here, you’ll find dishes inspired by the region’s unique climate and geography, such as asado negro, a beef stew cooked with onions, garlic, and black beans. Another popular dish is reina pepiada, a sandwich made with chicken, avocado, and mayonnaise.

Other traditional dishes include caraotas, a black bean stew, and sancocho de gallina, a stew made with chicken and vegetables. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, try pabellón criollo, a combination of rice, black beans, and shredded beef served with plantains and a fried egg.

For dessert, try borrachera, a sponge cake soaked in rum and topped with meringue and caramel. Other traditional desserts include tres leches, a sponge cake made with three kinds of milk, and pan de guayaba, a type of guava cake.

The Plains, Apure

Apure is a city located in the plains of western Venezuela. Here, you’ll find dishes influenced by the region’s unique climate and geography, such as asado negro, a beef stew cooked with onions, garlic, and black beans, and caraotas, a type of black bean stew.

Other traditional dishes include reina pepiada, a sandwich made with chicken, avocado, and mayonnaise, and sancocho de gallina, a stew made with chicken and vegetables. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, try pabellón criollo, a combination of rice, black beans, and shredded beef served with plantains and a fried egg.

For dessert, try borrachera, a sponge cake soaked in rum and topped with meringue and caramel. Other traditional desserts include tres leches, a sponge cake made with three kinds of milk, and pan de guayaba, a type of guava cake.

Conclusion

Venezuela is a country with a rich and varied cuisine, influenced by its unique geography, climate, and its history of colonization by the Spanish and Portuguese. From the tropical coastal regions to the highlands of the Andes, there is a wide range of dishes to explore. Whether you’re looking for traditional dishes such as arepas, cachapas, and pabellón criollo, or more adventurous dishes like sancocho de pescado and pescado encocado, Venezuela has something to offer every traveler.

No matter which region you visit, you’ll be able to experience the unique flavours and ingredients that make Venezuelan cuisine so special. So, if you’re looking to explore a new culinary destination, be sure to add Venezuela to your list!