Venezuelan food is becoming more and more popular in the US as of late, and it has many interested in the country's many flavorful dishes.

While this rise in popularity has been attributed by many to the influx of migrants fleeing the Nicolas Maduro regime and the socio-economic and financial crisis happening in Venezuela right now, it does not take away the fact that Venezuelan food is rich and flavorful and has been quite underrated for a very long time.

Five Dishes From Venezuela We Recommend You Try

Nomad Paradise described Venezuelan food as vibrant and diverse, being "full of fresh, hearty produce and some fascinating fusions." It takes the usual native cuisines and adds in plenty of European and West African influences. We have picked five dishes that we found to be our favorites in Venezuelan cuisine, and they are:

Arepa

We cannot talk about Venezuelan food without talking about arepas. These versatile pastries are popular not just in Venezuela but also in other parts of Latin America, such as Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. However, in Venezuela specifically, arepas are eaten at any time of the day.

These golden disks are d made from ground corn dough or precooked corn flour. They are often fried until crisply and served with either beans, cheese, avocadoes, or shredded beef.

Pabellon Criollo

When it comes to traditional dishes in Venezuela, pabellon criollo usually comes to mind. This dish is white rice served with black beans and slices of steak cooked with tomatoes, according to Taste Atlas. Some variants also have some fried plantains on the side.

READ MORE: Empanadas: The Iconic Savory Pie Popular in Spain and Its Former Colonies

Tequenos (Venezuelan Cheese Sticks)

Cheese sticks are popular all over the world, but Venezuela's version of it, known as Tequenos, is quite unique. Originally hailing from Los Teques, a popular vacation town for the wealthy, this dish is now known as the ultimate flexible Venezuelan food, according to Planet D.

While it does have a few similarities with mozzarella sticks, this one takes it further thanks to its crispy pastry crust. It is often served with Guasaca, a local avocado-infused dip.

Pan de Jamon (Ham Bread)

Pan de Jamon is exactly what its name suggests, which is bread with ham stuffed inside of it. However, this dish has a festive air to it as Pan de Jamon is often only prepared in December for Christmas dinner. The bread itself is soft and quite sweet. It is then rolled with other ingredients, such as ham slices, sugar, and olives. It is such a staple during Venezuelan Christmas dinners that many Venezuelans find it irreplaceable and Christmas would simply be incomplete without it.

Golfeados

As always, we end with something sweet, and Golfeados is a fitting one as this is Venezuela's own version of cinnamon rolls. Unlike ordinary cinnamon rolls, however, it has some cheese in it and has been described as a cheesy and buttery version of the beloved pastry. As expected, this goes well with some coffee, too.

READ NEXT: Lechon: The Iconic Roasted Pork From Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Spain

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Written by: Rick Martin

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