Tequeños With Guasacaca Venezuelan Fried Cheese Sticks With Avocado Sauce Food

TEQUEñOS WITH GUASACACA (VENEZUELAN FRIED CHEESE STICKS WITH AVOCADO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Cut the cheese into 3-inch-long planks, then cut them into sticks. Ideally, each one would be 1/2-by-1/2-by-3 inches but the shape of your cheese will dictate the dimensions and number of sticks. If the cheese is hard and crumbles easily, you may want cut it into wider rectangular planks instead of sticks. If using white cheese for frying or mozzarella, heavily salt the cheese, then place on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and let the liquid release while you prepare the dough.
• Working with one empanada disc at a time (keep the rest stacked with their liners, or they'll start to dry out the when you separate them), cut it into six 1-inch-wide strips. Remove the liners in between the discs and reserve them; they will come in handy if storing the tequeños later.
• Fill a small bowl with water. Dab water onto one end of each of the 2 shortest strips, overlap and press them together to create a strip that's as long as one of the remaining four strips.
• Spread the strips out, then dab the ends of one with water and slightly flatten. Place a cheese stick on the strip at an angle and wrap to cover the top of the cheese, pinching if necessary. Once the top is secure, wrap the dough around the stick, overlapping as you go, until the whole stick is covered with no cheese peeking through. You may need to pull and slightly stretch the dough to completely cover the end of the cheese stick. Cut off any excess dough and reserve it to patch up other tequeños, if necessary. If you need to attach another half strip with some water to completely seal, do so. Give the stick a very gentle roll and a tap on either end to seal. Repeat with the remaining cheese and discs. Depending on which cheese you use, you may have discs leftover. Save these for another use.
• The wrapped tequeños can be stacked in an airtight container, each layer separated with the reserved liners, and frozen for up to 3 months or they can be fried immediately.
• If frying right away, heat 2 inches of oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot to 325 degrees F. Place a couple of tequeños in the oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry, flipping once or twice, until golden brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. Bring the oil back up to the correct temperature in between batches.
• Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Let cool slightly before serving with the guasacaca, for dipping.
• Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste for seasoning and add more salt or sugar, if necessary. The guasacaca can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Makes 1 3/4 cups.

GUASACACA - GUACAMOLE FROM VENEZUELA

Steps:

• Chop the avocados and the green pepper and place in a bowl with the chopped onion.
• Finely chop the garlic and chile pepper and add to the onions and avocado.
• Add the vegetable oil, vinegar, tomato, and the cilantro or parsley and toss gently.
• If you prefer a smoother guasacaca, add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor, and process until smooth.

GUASACACA (VENEZUELAN GUACAMOLE)

Steps:

• Gather and prepare all ingredients. Quickly wash cilantro and parsley and remove the larger stems. Peel garlic. Roughly chop onion, green pepper and jalapeño. Scoop out the avocado pulp.
• Add everything to your food processor or blender and blend until fairly smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
• Drizzle in olive oil and give a few more pulses.
• Taste and adjust to your taste, adding more salt, lime juice or jalapeño.
• Transfer to your bowl and serve.

GUASACACA SAUCE (VENEZUELA)

Steps:

• Peel tomatoes and dice them, along with the chili peppers and the onions.
• Mix the tomatoes, onions, chiles, the parsley and the cilantro with the vinegar, the oil the salt and the pepper, mixing with a wooden spoon.
• Peel the avocados, puree the most ripe one, cut the other one into dice.
• Add to the other ingredients and place the avocado pip in the sauce, so it does not go black.
• Before you serve remove the pips.

GUASACACA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with lime wedges and chopped cilantro.
• Serve as a dip like guacamole with nachos, toasted pita chips and vegetable sticks. Or use as a sauce to slather over barbecued shrimp, fried fish, roasted chicken or grilled steak.