Fried Tequeños with Garlic Cream Dipping Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

Golden fried Venezuelan cheese sticks made with white cheese wrapped in crispy dough, paired with a smooth garlic cream sauce. This Latin American-inspired recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, turns all-purpose flour, cold unsalted butter, cubed, cold water into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 12 oz queso blanco or mozzarella cheese, cut into 3-inch sticks
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 tsp salt

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, mix 2 cups all-purpose flour with 1/2 tsp salt. Cut in 4 tbsp cold cubed butter with a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. Step 2: Gradually add 1/2 cup cold water, stirring until a dough forms. Knead lightly on a floured surface until smooth. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
3. Step 3: Roll chilled dough into a 1/8-inch thick rectangle. Cut into strips about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long.
4. Step 4: Wrap each 3-inch cheese stick (12 oz total) tightly with a dough strip, sealing edges to prevent cheese from leaking.
5. Step 5: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat to 350°F. Fry wrapped cheese sticks in batches for 2-3 minutes until golden and puffed. Drain on paper towels.
6. Step 6: For the dipping sauce, combine 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp lime juice, and 1/4 tsp salt in a small bowl. Stir until smooth.
7. Step 7: Serve the tequeños hot with the garlic cream sauce on the side for dipping.