Venezuelan food

**Venezuelan food** is about the many foods made and eaten in Venezuela. Most foods came from as a mix of European (Mostly from the Mediterranean sea), African, and Indigenous dishes. The most well known dish is the Arepa, a type of flat bun made with cornmeal (It could also be made with wheat flour) which is eaten as a side or main dish filled with other foods. Other well known foods are pan de jamón, tequeños, pabellón criollo, and hallacas.

Different Venezuelan regions have different foods that are eaten. The most common food ingredients used are:

- Grains and legumes: rice, corn, lentils, beans, peas, and other grains.
- Tubers and roots: potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, cassava, and Chinese squash.
- Meats: beef, chicken, hen, goat meat, pork, chigüire (capybara), venison, and a wide variety of fish and shellfish.
- Tropical fruits: mango, banana, papaya, guava and passion fruit.

## Main foods

The foods most eaten in most parts of Venezuela are:
- Arepa
- Cachapa
- Cachitos
- Caraotas negras
- Chicharrón
- Chupe Andino
- Ensalada de pollo (Chicken salad)
- Hallaca
- Huevos pericos
- Hervido de gallina (Hen soup))
- Mandoca
- Mondongo
- Pabellón criollo
- Pastel de pollo (Chicken pot pie)
- Polvorosa de pollo
- Pastelitos
- Pasticho - A type of lasagne
- Polenta - or _funche_

### Regional foods

Because of how big the country is, the foods are different in each region. Common foods of the regions are:

- Eastern Region: Seafood, such as fish, shellfish and lobsters, tubers such as yams, potatoes and Chinese squash, corn and beef are eaten in the south-plains region where soft fresh cheeses (Guiana, de mano, clineja, mozzarella criolla, etc.) are made. Fried or stewed fish are eaten with arepas, rice, salad, tostones or slices. Some European foods (such as clams with white wine, paella, etc.) are also eaten.

- Central-western Region: Meats such as goat and rabbit, cheeses are eaten there. The foods are mostly from indigenous and European influence. There is also a a lot of fast foods that came from Zulia, like, the patacón, tumbarrancho (a type of arepa) and fried wheat cakes. Its typical sweets include chimbos eggs, icaco candy, lemon and figs.

- Central Region: Foods commonly eaten are Chicken, stewed or roasted fish, rice, pasta, salads that come from Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and other European foods.

- Llanos Region: The foods there are similar to the foods in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Beef and game animals, like venison, chigüire (capybara), limpet, Cuniculus paca, morrocoy, are commonly grilled or roasted. Corn is also eaten there, mostly for cachapas. Dairy foods are also made there.

- Andean Region: The foods are similar to the Colombian Andes. Potatoes, wheat, beef, sheep, chicken, little fish except cultivated trout, from European foods are commonly eaten there.

Fresh or marinated vegetables, like aubergines, pumpkins, potatoes are also commonly eaten as sides.

## Drinks

Some popular drinks are:

- Beer
- Malta
- Parchita (Passionfruit juice)

## Snacks

Some foods commonly eaten as snacks are:
- Tequeños
- Tostones
- Tajadas
- Empanadas - Deep fried bread with fillings.
- Fries.

## Breads

Some breads commonly eaten are:

- _Casabe_ – a flatbread made with cassava starch.
- _Pan dulce_ (sweet bread)
- _Pan de jamón_ – A bread filled with ham, olives, and raisins that is commonly eaten during the Christmas season.

## Desserts

Some desserts eaten in special events are:
- _Alfajor_ – Corn cookie with arequipe and grated coconut
- _Bienmesabe_
- _Brazo gitano_ (Spanish Swiss roll)
- _Cannoli_ – often called _"cannoli siciliano"_
- _Pudín de chocolate_ – chocolate pudding
- _Dulce de Lechosa_ Green papaya slowe cooked in a syrup with cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.
- _Mousse de chocolate_
- _Quesillo_ – A type of flan
- _Polvorosas_ – Butter cookies with cinnamon
- by dalesantos

## Cheeses

Queso fresco (or queso blanco) is popular in South American countries like Venezuela. Other popular cheeses are Guayanés cheese, Palmita cheese, and queso de mano.