The Christmas period is a critical season in Venezuela. So it’s no surprise that Christmas food and snacks are consumed throughout the country in mass quantities yearly.
With such a vast food culture, there are plenty of festive recipes to sample during Christmas.
Nevertheless, we’ve narrowed down the best Venezuelan Christmas foods to get you started on your Venezuelan Christmas feast.
Check out our list below to find out why each deserves a spot on your menu this year!
Table of Contents
- Venezuelan Chocolate
- Hallacas
- Traditional Tres Leches
- Roasted Ham with Pineapple & Spice Glaze recipe
- Ponche Crema Venezuelan Eggnog
- Pan de Jamon (Venezuelan Ham Bread)
- Hornado de Chancho – Roasted Pork Leg
- Venezuelan Pasticho
- Arepas Venezolanas
- Golfeados
- Dulce De Zapallo or Candied Squash in Spiced Syrup
- Venezuelan Chicken Salad (Ensalada de Gallina)
- Arepas con Chorizo y Queso (Arepas with Chorizo and Cheese)
- Empanadas
- Vaca Frita (Fried Beef)
- Pabellón criollo
- Ajiaco (Chicken Soup with Potato, Corn, and Avocado)
- Bandeja Paisa (Colombian Plate/Platter)
- Pan de Jamón y Queso
- Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding with Cinnamon)
- Rosca de Reyes
- Turrón de Doña Pepa
- Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef)
- Quesillo
- Latin Style Roasted Turkey {Pavo a lo Criollo}
- Venezuelan Bollos Pelones
- Venezuelan Asado Negro
- Venezuelan Tamales
- Patacón zuliano – Plantain filled with beef
- Tequeños
- Mandocas
- Fosforera
- Sancocho – Venezuelan Stew
- Buñuelos – Yucca balls with cheese
Venezuelan Chocolate
Venezuelan Chocolate Marquesa is a delightful chocolate dessert perfect for the Marquesa as Venezuelan Christmas Food. The Marquesa is made with layers of rich chocolate cake filled with dulce de leche.
Also, topped it with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. It’s an impressive dessert that’s sure to please any chocolate lover.
Hallacas
Hallacas are a traditional Venezuelan dish made with cornmeal dough stuffed with various fillings (usually chicken, beef, pork, olives, and raisins). Then, wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled for Marquesa.
However, Hallacas are cornmeal dough stuffed with meat and vegetables, wrapped in plantain leaves, and boiled.
Traditional Tres Leches
Venezuelan Tres Leches is a delicious Christmas Food cake made of three different kinds of milk. This dessert is trendy during the Christmas season. Therefore, Venezuelan Tres Leches are served with fresh fruit or whipped cream.
Roasted Ham with Pineapple & Spice Glaze recipe
Ham is a traditional dish served on Christmas Eve in Venezuela. This recipe for Roasted Ham with Pineapple & Spice Glaze is a delicious twist on the classic dish.
The pineapple and spice glaze gives the ham a sweet and savory flavor that will have your guests return for seconds.
So, if you’re looking for a unique and delicious way to celebrate Christmas. Do well to use it this year as Venezuelan Christmas Food. Try Venezuelan-style Roasted Ham with Pineapple & Spice Glaze.
Ponche Crema Venezuelan Eggnog
Ponche crema is a traditional Venezuelan Christmas food similar to eggnog. It is made with milk, sugar, eggs, rum, and vanilla extract. Interestingly, Ponche crema is served cold and is often garnished with fruit or spices.
Pan de Jamon (Venezuelan Ham Bread)
Pan de Jamon is a Venezuelan Christmas Food dish traditionally served during Venezuelan Christmas. It is bread filled with ham, cheese, and olives.
Nonetheless, this dish is often served with a side of salad or soup. Pan de Jamon is typically made with white bread, but whole wheat bread can also be used.
Hornado de Chancho – Roasted Pork Leg
Venezuelan Christmas food is a delicious blend of Spanish and Indigenous influences. One of the most popular dishes during Christmas is hornado de chancho, or roasted pork leg.
Whereas the pork is marinated overnight in a unique seasoning blend. Then slow-roasted until it’s falling-apart tender. Serve it with arepas (cornmeal cakes), and enjoy!
Venezuelan Pasticho
Venezuelan pasticho is a dish made with chicken, ham, and cheese filling. This Venezuelan Christmas Food is then covered in a sauce made from eggs, milk, and flour.
However, It is then baked until the sauce is golden brown. Venezuelan pastichio is typically served with white rice, black beans, and a side of salad.
Arepas Venezolanas
Arepas Venezolanas is a must at any Venezuelan Christmas celebration. These cornmeal cakes are usually filled with meat, cheese, or beans and make a delicious and hearty dish.
Although they may take some time to prepare, they’re worth it! Other popular Venezuelan Christmas foods include hallacas, tamales, empanadas, and tequeños.
Golfeados
Golfeados are a Venezuelan pastry made of flour, water, salt, and shortening. They are deep-fried and then covered in sugar syrup.
In addition, Golfeados are often served as Venezuelan Christmas Food with cheese or ham.
Dulce De Zapallo or Candied Squash in Spiced Syrup
Candied squash is a popular Venezuelan Christmas food. It is made by boiling squash in water and then adding spices and sugar to make a syrup.
The squash is cooked in the syrup until it is soft and candied. This dish is often served with cheese or cream.
Venezuelan Chicken Salad (Ensalada de Gallina)
This dish is made with shredded chicken, green olives, red bell peppers, and white onion, and it’s dressed with mayonnaise. Regardless, It’s an excellent option for something light but flavorful. Serve it as a side dish or main course.
Arepas con Chorizo y Queso (Arepas with Chorizo and Cheese)
These famous cornmeal cakes are stuffed with chorizo and cheese, then fried or grilled. They make an excellent appetizer for Venezuelan Christmas Food or main dish.
They can be made plain or filled with various fillings such as cheese, chicken, or beef.
Empanadas
Empanadas are popular Venezuelan Christmas foods made of flour or cornmeal dough stuffed with various fillings. And also, it can be fried or baked, and Empanadas can be filled with meats, cheeses, vegetables, or fruits.
Preferably, many Venezuelans like to fill their empanadas with pork, chicken, or beef for Christmas. Empanadas are often served with dipping sauces such as salsa, ají (a type of chili pepper sauce), or guasacaca (a Venezuelan avocado sauce).
Vaca Frita (Fried Beef)
Vaca frita is a dish made of shredded flank steak that’s been sautéed with onions and garlic. The beef is usually fried in its fat, making it crispy and full of flavor. However, Serve vaca frita with black beans, white rice, and plantains for a complete meal.
Pabellón criollo
Pabellón criollo is a popular Venezuelan Christmas Food dish that typically includes shredded beef, black beans, white rice, plantains, and cheese. This dish is usually made during Christmas and is a favorite among Venezuelans.
Usually, Pabellón Criollo (Rice, Beans, and Venezuelan dishes is served during Christmas. This dish is hearty and filling, making it the perfect meal to enjoy on a cold winter’s day.
Ajiaco (Chicken Soup with Potato, Corn, and Avocado)
Ajiaco is a chicken, potato, corn, and avocado soup. It is typically served with white rice and black beans. Above all, this dish is usually made during the Christmas season. And is a favorite among Venezuelans as Christmas food.
Bandeja Paisa (Colombian Plate/Platter)
Venezuela is located in South America and is bordered by Colombia, Guyana, and Brazil. One of the most popular Venezuelan dishes is the bandeja paisa.
Notwithstanding, the dish consists of white rice, black beans, carne asada (grilled beef), chorizo (sausage), avocado, plantain, arepa (cornbread), and an egg. This dish is usually served as Venezuelan Christmas food with a side of salad and juice.
Pan de Jamón y Queso
This dish is a must during Christmas in Venezuela. It’s a type of ham and cheese bread that’s popular because it’s so easy to make as Venezuelan Christmas Food.
On balance, the dough is made with flour, water, salt, and yeast. Then, it’s filled with ham, cheese, and sometimes olives. After that, it’s baked until golden brown.
Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding with Cinnamon)
Arroz con Leche is a rice pudding popular in many Latin American countries. It is made with rice, milk, cinnamon, and sugar. This dish is usually served as a dessert but can also be eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
Regardless, Arroz con Leche is a traditional Venezuelan Christmas food many people enjoy during Christmas.
Rosca de Reyes
Rosca de Reyes is a type of Venezuelan Christmas food with a round cake. And this cake is often decorated with fruits and nuts. This cake is typically served with a hot beverage, such as coffee or tea.
In detail, Rosca de Reyes represents the three Wise Men who brought gifts to baby Jesus. The tradition of eating this cake on Venezuelan Christmas dates back to the 16th century.
Turrón de Doña Pepa
Turrón de Doña Pepa is a traditional Venezuelan cake/cookie made with nuts and raisins. It is often flavored with coconut milk, coffee, and rum.
This is to say, this delicious treat is perfect for any Venezuelan Christmas Food occasion!
Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef)
Ropa Vieja is a traditional Venezuelan dish with shredded beef and other ingredients. It’s typically served with white rice, black beans, and plantains.
In short, this dish is hearty and filling, making it the perfect meal to enjoy on a cold Christmas day.
Quesillo
Quesillo is a type of cheese that’s popular in Venezuela. It’s made from fresh cow’s milk and has a slightly sweet flavor. Quesillo is often served with arepas (a cornmeal cake), but it can also be enjoyed on its own.
If you’re looking for something new to try this Christmas season, give Quesillo Venezuelan Christmas food a chance!
Latin Style Roasted Turkey {Pavo a lo Criollo}
Roasting a turkey is a tradition in many Latin American countries, and Venezuela is no exception. This recipe for Latin Style Roasted Turkey {Pavo a lo Criollo} features a flavorful sofrito that infuses the bird with deliciousness. The turkey’s skin comes out crispy and golden brown, while the meat is juicy and tender.
To sum up, Serve this Venezuelan classic with mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. This is best for a Christmas meal that will please everyone at the table as Venezuelan Christmas Food.
Venezuelan Bollos Pelones
Bollos pelones are a type of Venezuelan cornbread often served as a side dish. They are made with cornmeal, water, salt, and oil and can be either fried or baked.
Bollos pelones are traditionally served with cheese, avocado, and/or sour cream.
Venezuelan Asado Negro
Venezuelan Asado Negro is a traditional dish with beef marinated in coffee, ancho chili peppers, and garlic. The meat is then slow-cooked until it is falling-apart tender.
However, It’s typically served with arepas (cornmeal cakes), black beans, and white rice, especially for Venezuelan Christmas food. This dish is sure to please any beef lover and would make a great addition to your Christmas feast!
Venezuelan Tamales
Venezuelan tamales are made with cornmeal dough filled with meat (usually chicken), vegetables, and spices. The tamales are then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until cooked through.
On the other hand, they’re usually served as Venezuelan Christmas food with a dipping sauce on the side. Tamales are similar to hallacas but are made with masa (corn flour).
Patacón zuliano – Plantain filled with beef
Patacón zuliano is a Venezuelan dish made with green plantains used as Venezuelan Christmas food. The plantains are fried and filled with shredded beef, black beans, cheese, and salsa.
In other words, this dish is often served at Christmas time.
Tequeños
Venezuelan Christmas food wouldn’t be complete without tequeños! These delicious cheese rolls are perfect for any occasion, but they’re delicious during Christmas.
In particular, Tequeños are made with fresh, white cheese and wrapped in a light, flaky dough. They can be served plain or with a variety of dipping sauces.
Mandocas
Flavored fried corn dough Venezuelan Christmas food is much more than just the traditional dishes we all know and love. There’s an entire world of flavor and culture to explore! Mandocas is a perfect example of this. These fried corn dough balls are flavored with various spices, making them a delicious and unique treat.
Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory, mandocas are sure to please. So if you’re looking to add some excitement to your Christmas table this year, be sure to give Venezuelan Christmas food a try!
Fosforera
Fosforera is a seafood soup that is popular in Venezuela during Christmas. The soup contains various seafood, including shrimp, lobster, and crab.
The soup is also usually made with vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes. It is typically served with white rice on the side.
Sancocho – Venezuelan Stew
Sancocho is a Venezuelan stew traditionally made with chicken, beef, or pork, especially for Venezuelan Christmas food. The stew also includes a variety of vegetables, such as yuca (cassava), plantains, and potatoes.
The stew is usually seasoned with cumin, garlic, and chili peppers. Sancocho is typically served with white rice on the side.
Buñuelos – Yucca balls with cheese
Venezuelan Christmas food is some of the most delicious in the world. Buñuelos, for example, are fried yucca balls that are often filled with cheese. They’re popular street food in Venezuela, and you can find them at most Venezuelan restaurants.
Therefore, If you’re looking for something a little different this Christmas season, try Venezuelan Christmas food. You won’t be disappointed!
Dulce de lechosa – Papaya dessert
Conclusion
Venezuelan Christmas food is a delicious and unique blend of Spanish, African, and indigenous influences. From tamales and hallacas to pabellón criollo and pastelitos, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Check out some of these traditional Venezuelan dishes if you want something new to try this Christmas season!
