Christmas buns, tradition in Venezuela

Christmas in Venezuela is celebrated with chistmas buns, hallaca, pernil (Pork leg), ham bread and chicken salad.

However, the Christmas buns are an exquisite dish that year after year delights the palate of Venezuelan families.

It never goes out of style and they are always welcome, even after Christmas.

This dish has great similarity with the hallaca, it looks a lot because it is made with the same mass of it.

It also has raisins and olives, ingredients that give the Christmas buns a special touch.

Every December the Venezuelan families prepare their Christmas dinner and the buns are part of it.

There are even those who prefer to eat more Christmas buns than you found.

The christmas buns

This dish is accompanied with spicy, guasacaca or some cream of preference.

But they are delicious even without the companion.

How Christmas buns are made

This dish is prepared in a similar way to the hallaca, however, next we will tell you what ingredients they carry.

Ingredients

• 250 grams of ground meat.
• 10 capers.
• 6 cloves of garlic.
• 1 large onion.
• A large red or green paprika.
• A medium carrot.
• 6 chives.
• 5 sweet peppers netre green and red.
• 6 branches of celery (without the stem).
• A handful of coriander.
• 4 tablespoons fried tomato.
• 1 cup chicken or meat broth.
• 1 teaspoon of mustard.
• 4 tablespoons of red wine.
• 1 tablespoon curry.
• 4 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.
• 6 tablespoons of liquid onoto.
• 4 tablespoons of oil (to knead the dough).
• 2 bread flour rates

Preparation Mode

This typical dish of the holiday parties is prepared as follows:

First step:

The first step to make this succulent Christmas dish is to chop all the dressings as small as possible.

There are those who prefer to chop small and in the form of squares.

Step 2:

Subsequently the meat is fried on a medium heat, it must be constantly removed so that it does not brown.

Once the meat is ready, let it rest in the pan.

Meanwhile the next step is applied.

Step 3:

It is time that all these dressings go to the paila to be fried.

These should be cooked over medium-high heat.

The first ones to be fried are: onion, garlic, chives and paprika.

When the onion is ready, add the sweet pepper, both red and green.

It must be removed so that it does not stick or burn.

Step 4:

The fourth step in preparing Christmas buns in Venezuela is to add carrots to all dressings.

Since this is the hardest, for its consistency, it should be added and let cook for 5 minutes.

Although there are those who prefer it more crispy and then do not leave it for the full 5 minutes but about 3 or 4.

In this part the person can decide according to their tastes.

 

Step 5:

After having the sofrito ready it is necessary to add the ground meat.

It must continue cooking over medium heat to be able to place the capers, which have to be chopped into small pieces.

It is time to add liquid dressings, such as Worcestershire sauce. Place 4 tablespoons and a cup of water.

 

This helps the other ingredients to condense in the right way and the taste is balanced. While helping the rest of the dressings are not consumed with fire.

The next thing is to add the tablespoon of mustard. This must be mixed correctly.

If you notice that the dressings and meat are being consumed you have to add more water.

That way it doesn’t stick to the pan.

At this point, place the 4 tablespoons of fried tomato.

There are those who prefer to put a little sugar so that the stew is left with a sweet touch.

However, there are also those who do not like and prefer to skip the two tablespoons of sugar.

Finally to this mixture is added cilantro and celery well chopped.

It is recommended to add these ingredients at the end so that they do not lose their aroma.

Red wine is the last ingredient that we are going to place, it must be removed and turned off immediately (to avoid losing its delicious essence).

The dough of Christmas buns

Once the meat is ready, the dough should be made.

To make the dough of the Christmas buns you must add the two cups of flour in a plastic container.

Add the chicken or meat broth, according to the taste of each person, and a spoonful of sugar to make the dough.

Some water is also added so that it is balanced and manageable.

Once the dough is ready it can be manipulated with the hands.

We cannot forget to add the touch of oil to the dough during the preparation process.

To add color 6 tablespoons of liquid onoto are added.

These six tablespoons will give the dough a somewhat mustard yellow color, however, if they want them darker it is recommended to place a little more onoto.

Once the dough is ready, place the meat and mix gently with your hands.

Assemble the Christmas buns

To finalize this recipe you should assemble the buns.

A small amount of oil is then placed in a bowl and the meat that must already be mixed with the dough should be separated.

Keep capers and raisins on hand.

The next thing is to make a ball with the dough and place it in the middle of the banana or aluminum sheet.

Before this step do not forget to moisten the leaf with a little oil so that the dough does not stick.

Subsequently shape the chistmas buns called “bollito”, they usually become rectangular.

Once you have shaped it proceed to tie it.

If you do it with a banana leaf, a wrap similar to that of the hallaca should be left.

However, if you do it with aluminum foil they can be wrapped in two ways: as a candy or as a hallaca, tied with wick.

If you opt for aluminum foil it is necessary to tighten the tips well so that no water falls in the cooking process.

Cook the rolls for 25 minutes

Then place a pot with boiling water and add the buns for a period of 25 minutes.

After the time, take them out and let them rest for 15 minutes.

If you open it freshly from the pot, the dough will have a very smooth consistency.

While if you wait for 15 minutes you will let the masse get harder.

So once you open them it will be firmer and you can taste the flavor.

On video:

Here is a video in which you can see how Venezuelan Christmas buns are made.

Christmas Buns are a Christmas tradition in Venezuela. Venezuelan pride and never missing on the table during December.

Although somehow they are always present throughout the year, only in different presentations.

There are buns that are made with paprika and onion sauce, (water is replaced by mixing water with paprika, onion and salt).

Buns are also made with cornmeal and accompanied with butter and grated hard cheese.

Only for Christmas the buns take a different presentation and flavor and become it in Christmas Buns.

Sources:

https://www.gustavomirabal.es/venezuela/como-hacer-los-bollos-tradicion-de-la-navidad-en-venezuela/

 

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