Hallaca

Description

Often referred to as Venezuelan tamale , hallaca is an elaborate dish usually served as a part of a Christmas dinner. It consists of a stew-like filling, usually made with meat, which is wrapped in corn flour dough, placed into plantain leaves, then tightly wrapped and boiled. The additional ingredients, often referred to as decorations , are placed on top of the stew and usually include olives, peppers, raisins, or even boiled eggs. There is a popular belief that the dish was invented by the Venezuelan slaves, who used the leftover ingredients provided by the wealthy landowners in order to create this unique Venezuelan dish. Modern-day varieties differ throughout Venezuela; they incorporate different ingredients and families usually have their unique signature recipes.