Content

• Ingredients
• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Preparing the arepas
• Tips

Arepas are native to Venezuela and are eaten with every meal. They are small corn cakes that are made from corn flour and are briefly baked. Although they can also be eaten separately, they are often filled with delicious fillings. Read on for instructions on how to make arepas with three different fillings.

Ingredients

• 2 cups / 235 g. cornmeal
• 2 cups / 250 ml. warm water
• A pinch of salt
• Oil

To step

Method 1 of 2: Preparing the arepas

1. Place the cornmeal and a pinch of salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients well with your hands or a whisk. Slowly pour the warm water over the cornmeal.
   • Buy cornmeal that has been precooked, such as Harina Pan, the classic cornmeal used in Venezuela. It is available at the major supermarkets. This white or yellow flour is gluten and preservative free.
   • If cornmeal is not available in your area, you can replace it with finely ground cornmeal such as organic cornstarch or flour.
2. Preheat the oven to 250 ° C so that the oven is at the right temperature when you are going to put the arepas in it.
3. When all the arepas are baked and on the baking paper, put them in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. When they are done, take them out of the oven and whisk them for a while. When they sound hollow, they are done.
4. Make a filling for breakfast. In Venezuela, arepas that are eaten for breakfast are often filled with ham and cheese, so top up some smoked ham and queso fresca / fresh mackerel cheese / ricotta or mozzarella.
   • For a less traditional but just as delicious breakfast filling, you can also try scrambled eggs with some salsa.
5. Make a filling for the arepas so that you can eat them as a snack. Arepas are often eaten alone or with a simple cheese filling. If you like a more savory snack, try one of these simple arepa fillings:
   • Chicken salad with avocado. Combine chicken pieces, mayonnaise, finely chopped onion and celery with salt and pepper to taste. Spread this over half of the arepa and add a few slices of avocado and place the other half of the arepa on top.
   • Black beans and salsa. Put some black beans on one half of the arepa and top it with a spicy salsa. You can also add a few slices of cheese to enrich the arepa's filling even more.
6. Make the Pabellon arepas. After arepas, the Pabellon is Venezuela's most appreciated dish. The combination of these two dishes is excellent. A de Pabellon arepa is made from the following ingredients:
   • Shredded beef (you can also use shawarma meat), black beans and fried plantains. This is the most classic version.
   • Put a fried egg and some cheese on the beef, beans and plantain to finish it off.

Tips

• Fill the arepas with pork (shawarma, for example) and Gouda cheese for a midnight snack. In Venezuela, this snack is known as La Rumbera, "the party number."