Arepas Recipe + Fillings

Name: Arepas Recipe + Fillings
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 10 garlic cloves; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon Mexican oregano, (or regular dried oregano); 1/4 teaspoon ground ancho chile powder; pinch dried red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 2 cups arepa corn meal (made from precooked ground corn); 1/2 cup grated manchego cheese; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 1/2 cups hot water; olive oil; roast chicken, shredded (optional for the meat eaters); your favorite BBQ sauce; cooked black beans; Serrano pepper; lime juice; olive oil; kosher salt; Jack cheese (or other cheese you prefer); avocado; mango; pickled red onions; avocado; light sour cream

April 27, 2013 39 Comments

Arepas are tasty corn based griddle breads that are typically stuffed with cheese, meats such as BBQ chicken or pork, or with black beans.

Vegan and Dairy-Free Version Gluten-Free Easy 30-Minute Recipe

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What Are Arepas?

Arepas (ah-RAY-pas) are naturally gluten-free corn cakes traditional to Venezuelan and Colombian tables going back thousands of years. And like many other griddle breads, they're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Kind of like a cross between a tortilla and a pancake.

I've seen a lot of variations, similar to so many families in Italy having a slightly different pizza dough recipe from each other. For example, Venezuelan arepas are thicker than the ones found in Colombia, and often sliced like a bun.

But the thing that makes all arepas unique from other corn-based breads is the type of cornmeal used to make them.

What Kind of Corn Meal Is Used To Make Arepas?

Arepas must be made with corn meal made from precooked ground corn (harina de maìz precocida). If you don't see it at your local grocery, check any Latin American markets in your area, or use this link -> -> to order it online. I use Precooked White Corn Meal by P.A.N., and says on a side label that it’s suitable for making arepas.

Always make sure that the corn meal you purchase is specifically labeled arepas flour, arepas harina, or masarepas flour. Or somehow mentions arepas, and made from precooked ground corn. It is not the same as masa harina.

How To Make Arepas - Basic Recipe

You only need 4 ingredients to make basic arepas, and that includes water, salt and oil for cooking. So, in a way, it's only ONE INGREDIENT. Which is, of course, the arepas corn meal.

And, they're easy to make in about 15 MINUTES. Below are the 5 easy steps for making basic arepas.

Whisk together the salt and arepas corn meal and create a well in the middle using your hands.
Pour an amount of warm water equal to the amount of arepas corn meal into the well. So if you're using 2 cups of corn meal, you'll need 2 cups of warm water. If you live in a dry area, you may need more water, up to 2 ½ cups.
Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
Cover and allow the dough to hydrate for 5 minutes.
Knead a few times and tear off pieces of dough. Next flatten them into a disc and fry on a griddle or frying pan.

Tips:

The dough should be just barely sticky on your fingers. Just add a little corn meal or warm water, depending if the dough is too sticky or dry, to get to that texture. Also, don’t worry if the dough seems a little watery at first. It firms up quickly as it cools.

Remember, you're going to split them - so don't flatten them too much!

Arepas Recipe Variations

If you find them a little plain, feel free to experiment with some flavors as I did. The dough is a wonderful blank canvas for a wide palette of flavors. Here are some ideas:

Kick up the dough with spices. For example ancho chili powder, smoky paprika or oregano all work great here.
Or, add grated cheese to the mix such as Mexican cheeses.
If you love garlic like we do, smash garlic cloves into a paste and add it to the mix.
Add 1 teaspoon sugar to the water before adding it to the dough.

Arepas Fillings Ideas

Arepas are typically filled with something, similar to a bun. Here are some ideas for you:

Stuff some arepas with scrambled eggs, avocado and black beans for breakfast.
If you have meat eaters at the table like I do, go with BBQ chicken or pork.
Mix up some black beans, minced jalapeño pepper, cheese and guacamole.
Slather them with butter, and call it done!
Fill them with your favorite cheese move the stuffed arepas back to the griddle to melt the cheese. Mozzarella, Monterey Jack Cheese and Mexican cheeses all work great! Put a spoonful of salsa on each of them for some pizzazz.

Or use the ideas in the below recipe!

Want more vegetarian and vegan dish ideas? I can help you. I have three newsletters for different topics: 1) Weekly Recipes, 2) Vegetarian Meal Plans, and 3) Monthly Vegetarian Tips for helping you to move to a more vegetarian diet. Choose which newsletters are most relevant to your lifestyle, and you'll also get my 5 Secrets to Fuss-Free Dinners.

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arepas rellenas, cooking for vegetarians and omnivores

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