Arepas Recipe

One of the most sought-after cuisines around the world, and specially in America, is Venezuelan cuisine.

With so many exotic flavors and inspiration that comes from many corners of different countries, Venezuelan food is one of a kind and is something that everyone should try at least once in their lives.

But going to Venezuela is not always the choice for everyone, being very far and involving international travel.

However, that doesn't mean you shouldn’t be able to try the best meals from this Latin-American country.

That’s why you’re probably in this article, trying to learn more about arepas venezolanas, their history and how to prepare them in 4 simple steps. Let’s dig in!

Arepas Venezolanas

For those who don’t know a thing about arepas, these are a South-American popular meal that consists of ground-corn dough cooked from both sides.

The countries that most cook arepas are Venezuela and Colombia, but there are many other countries that have their own versions of this dish.

Arepas can be eaten on their own, with cheese, fresh cheese, ground beef, chicken, avocado, and basically any type of salsa you want to dip them in.

Arepas were made since pre-columbian times; early tools have been found on archaeological sites that suggest they were used to flatten and cook the arepas.

The origin of arepas is not clear, as well as the country they were first cooked in. But the oldest dates of presence of corn in a prehispanic establishment are Colombia and Venezuela, with 3,000 and 2,800 years of age, respectively.

In spite of it’s long history, arepas haven’t changed that much in ingredients or preparation. They’re still one of the most made meals throughout these countries.

If you’re in the mood for trying arepas venezolanas for the first time but you don’t really know where to start, we’ll share a very special and easy arepas recipe to make any given day.

This recipe requires everyday ingredients and the most important thing to obtain, pre-cooked white corn meal, you can easily get it at our store.

Keep reading to find out this step-by-step arepas recipe.

Ingredients for Venezuelan arepas

• 2 and a half cups of lukewarm water
• 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, minced
• From 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup of vegetable oil, or as much as needed
• 2 cups of pre-cooked white corn meal or arepa flour
• Desired fillings for the arepas such as shredded cooked chicken or pork, stewed black beans with cheese and lime, avocadoes, corn salad with onion and fresh herbs, etc
• Lime wedges for seasoning and decorating

Note: Arepa flour is pre-cooked corn flour and is not to be confused with masa harina. It can also be found in latin food supermarkets as masarepa or harina precocida.

How to make arepas

• Step 1
  Mix the 2 cups of pre-cooked arepa flour and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt in a medium-sized bowl. When it's completely mixed make a deep well in the center and add the 2 and a half cups of warm water.
• Using your fingers or a wooden spoon stir until a mixture is formed. Make sure no lumps remain and that you create a malleable dough with soft and moist texture. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes to let it dehydrate.
• Step 2
  Keep kneading the dough for a while in the midle-sized bowl, then take it out and divide it into 8 golf ball-sized pieces. Roll each piece thoroughly and pat it into a patty of about ½” to ⅜” in thickness.
• Step 3
  Take 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil into a large, nonstick skillet and put it over medium heat until shimmering.
• Work in batches so you don’t end up burning the arepas. Add 4 dough patties in the hot oil and cover them up to cook until they’re golden brown, about 4 minutes.
• Flip the patties and cook up to 8 minutes total. Transfer the cooked arepas to a paper towel-lined plate or a wire rack to drain until cool enough to handle.
• Repeat this step with the remaining oil in the recipe and the remaining dough balls.
• Step 4
  Slice each arepa horizontally with a thin serrated knife to form a pita-like pocket. Start stuffing your arepas with your desired fillings and serve with lime wedges to squeeze over and season, or you can simply eat your arepas without slicing.

With 4 main and easy to obtain ingredients and in just 4 simple steps, you can make the most delicious arepas venezolanas in the world!

Make sure to follow your arepas recipe thoroughly, but also make sure to experiment and have fun with the fillings and the seasonings until you find the one you like the best.

So forget about thinking “there’s no yummy arepas near me”, now take the first step and prepare and cook the most mouth-watering arepas just as if they were made by an authentic Venezuelan restaurant.