A tequeño or dedito de queso is prepared with a bread

Bread

Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...

 dough

Dough

Dough is a paste made out of any cereals or leguminous crops by mixing flour with a small amount of water and/or other liquid. This process is a precursor to making a wide variety of foodstuffs, particularly breads and bread-based items , flatbreads, noodles, pastry, and similar items)...

 with queso blanco

Queso blanco

Queso blanco, along with other similar cheeses including queso fresco, is a creamy, soft, and mild unaged white cheese that originated in Spain and spread to Mexico and other American countries...

 (white cheese) in the middle. It is formed into a breadstick

Breadstick

Breadsticks are generally pencil-sized sticks of crisp, dry bread originating in Turin and the surrounding area in Italy. They are originally thought to have been created in the 14th century; according to a local tradition, they would be instead invented by a baker in Lanzo Torinese in 1679...

 and then usually fried

Frying

Frying is the cooking of food in oil or another fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC. Chemically, oils and fats are the same, differing only in melting point, but the distinction is only made when needed. In commerce, many fats are called oils by custom, e.g...

. It is one of the most popular Venezuelan and Colombian

Colombian

Colombian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Colombia* Colombian people...

 snack

Snack

A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...

 foods in parties, especially weddings.

The name "tequeños" comes from the town of Los Teques

Los Teques

Los Teques is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Miranda. Its population is 140,617 .-History:The city was founded in 1777 and was named after the Aractoeques Carabs, an indigenous tribe that once inhabited the area...

, capital of the state of Miranda

Miranda (state)

Miranda State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. It is ranked second in population among Venezuelan states, after Zulia State. In June 30, 2010, it had approximately 2,987,968 residents. It also has the greatest Human Development Index in Venezuela, according to the...

 where it is believed this food originated from. The tequeño is also said to represent the children of Los Teques, because of the way the cheese is wrapped around by a thin wrap of dough resembling the natives of the city in which has traditionally been cold. The oldest known references to it come from the first decade of the 19th century. At that time the richest families of Caracas

Caracas

Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...

 would spend long vacation periods in Los Teques and it is believed that they started preparing them with the left over dough of another Venezuelan food, *pastelitos*'.

New tequeño versions, made by gourmet Venezuelan chefs, now exist. For example, Helena Ibarra has invented tequeños made with local goat cheese that are dipped in a sugary (papelón) sauce. Many other restaurants like Tequenomania have created their own variety of flavors including some made with beef, ham and cheese, chicken, spinach and cheese, milk caramel, guava and cream cheese, chocolate and more.

How to prepare (deep-fry)

For best quality and food safety follow these instructions:

• Keep frozen until ready to use; cook thoroughly before eating.
• Pre-heat oil to 350°F (medium high to high).
• Fry tequeños for 2 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. If cheese becomes visible, remove from heat immediately; the tequeños are done.
• Frozen food may develop ice crystal, causing hot splatter; please add tequenos carefully.
• Avoid thawing.