Hallaca
Venezuela's Christmas tamale in a banana leaf
Think of it as: Like a tamale dressed up for the holidays
Christmas, wrapped in a banana leaf.
What does it taste like?
Soft corn dough around a sweet and savory stew, with raisins and olives.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureSoft and moist
What is it?
Corn dough topped with a stew of beef, pork and chicken, olives and raisins, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. It's Venezuela's Christmas dish, and making it is a family affair.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Families make dozens in December and swap them with neighbors and relatives. A Christmas Eve centerpiece.
Watch it
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇻🇪Venezuela
CapitalCaracas
Populationabout 28.9 millionestimate (unverified)
IndustriesOil, Mining, Farming
Famous peopleGustavo DudamelConductor active around the world
HelloHola (Spanish)
CurrencyBolívar
Fun factWith a drop of about 979 m, Angel Falls is the world's tallest waterfall.
The flag🇻🇪 Yellow is wealth, blue is the sea, red is the blood of independence, and the eight stars are the provinces that joined the fight for independence.
From Tokyoabout 14,170 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Caracas
Getting thereabout 20 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeThe dry season from December to April is best (check safety information first). Also tryPabellón criolloCachapaTequeños More from here🫓 Arepa
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeThe dry season from December to April is best (check safety information first). Also tryPabellón criolloCachapaTequeños More from here🫓 Arepa
🇻🇪 Sounds & life in Venezuela
HolaHello（Hola (Spanish)）
Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
Right now…
Anthem"Glory to the Brave People" (Gloria al Bravo Pueblo)
MusicJoropo Music of the plains, driven by harp and cuatro
SportBaseball
Miguel Cabrera (baseball; MLB Triple Crown winner) World HeritageCanaima National Park and more National animalTroupial (national bird) National flowerCattleya mossiae (orchid) FestivalCarnival (February-March)
MusicJoropo Music of the plains, driven by harp and cuatro
SportBaseball
Miguel Cabrera (baseball; MLB Triple Crown winner) World HeritageCanaima National Park and more National animalTroupial (national bird) National flowerCattleya mossiae (orchid) FestivalCarnival (February-March)
Ingredients
- Corn flour (masarepa) 500 g
- Beef, pork and chicken, 1 kg total
- Onions 2
- Red bell pepper 1
- Olives 20
- Raisins 4 tbsp
- Banana leaves, as needed
- Annatto oil 3 tbsp
Can't find it? No banana leaves? Wrap in parchment and foil.
How to make it (one way)
- Finely chop the meats, onion and pepper and stew until sweet and savory
- Mix corn flour with annatto oil and broth into a dough
- Spread dough thin on a banana leaf and add stew, olives and raisins
- Wrap and tie with string
- Boil for about an hour