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Authentic Venezuelan and Colombian arepa
Cheese-filled, crispy baked arepa

Arepa

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Main Courses
The arepa is the Latin American 'daily bread', which is gluten-free as it is made from special pre-cooked maize flour (Masa Harina). Its distinctive feature is that it develops a crispy crust on the outside while remaining soft and steaming on the inside. The neutral-tasting dough is the perfect carrier for savoury cheeses, meats, or just simple butter.
🕒 Prep Time 15 mins
🍳 Cook Time 15 mins
⌛ Total Time 30 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 380 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Venezuelan / Colombian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Cast iron skillet or frying pan
  • Knife

Allergen Information

⚠️ Milk

Instructions

1 ✓

Dissolve the salt in the lukewarm water. Gradually add the maize flour, mixing by hand, until you get a homogenous, dough-like consistency. Let it rest for 5 minutes.

Tip: During resting, the flour particles fully absorb the water (hydration), so the dough will crack less.
2 ✓

With wet hands, form balls, then flatten them into discs approx. 1.5-2 cm thick. Smooth the edges so they don't crack.

Tip: A smooth surface is important for even cooking in the pan.
3 ✓

Heat the mixture of oil and butter over medium heat. Fry the arepas for 5-7 minutes per side until they form a golden brown, hard crust. If necessary, pop them in the oven for 5 minutes to ensure the inside is cooked through.

Tip: Lower heat and longer cooking ensure the inside cooks in the steam, rather than just burning the outside.
4 ✓

Wait until slightly cooled, then slit lengthwise (like a bun) but do not cut all the way through. Stuff with grated cheese, which will melt from the hot dough.

Tip: The steaming interior melts the cheese immediately.

Recipe FAQ

Why are the edges cracking?
The dough is too dry. Add a little more water until you get a pliable but not sticky consistency.
Can I use regular cornmeal?
No! Only pre-cooked (Masa Harina/P.A.N.) flour works, because the starch in it has already gelatinised.

Ingredients

  • 300 g Masa Harina (pre-cooked maize flour)
  • 350 ml Lukewarm water (more as needed)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 150 g Grated mozzarella cheese
  • 20 g Butter
  • 10 ml Olive oil