Arepa is the favorite food of Venezuelan people. The arepa is currently the characteristic sign of our country and is known worldwide as the most distinctive food of Venezuelan gastronomy. The arepa can be eaten at any time of the day and can serve as an accompaniment to any dish. The arepa is commonly chosen for breakfast or dinner, with fillings of all kinds: butter, cheese, ham, chicken, fish, meat, or eggs. But it also serves as an accompaniment to lunches and soups. The arepa is prepared with very few ingredients, among them Harina Pan (P.A.N. Pre-cooked Cornmeal)
P.A.N. Pre-cooked Cornmeal is the brand that created the precooked corn flour product. In Venezuela we make a variety of recipes with Harina Pan, for example: Arepas, empanadas, buns and hallacas, but they are not the only dishes that can be prepared. Today we will tell you about some recipes that can be prepared with P.A.N. Pre-cooked Cornmeal other than the typical arepa, specifically, 2 savory recipes and 2 sweet recipes. Keep reading and you will be surprised.
Chicken and Cheese Croquettes
Ingredients:
- A.N. Pre-cooked White Corn Meal + extra for dredging
- rice flour
- chicken breast, cooked and finely shredded
- grated yellow cheese
- milk
- cream
- baking powder
- butter
- oregano
- Salt and pepper
- Oil for frying
Preparation: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pan, add the chicken breast (previously cooked and shredded), season with a bit of salt and the oregano. Set aside. In a bowl, blend 2 cups of milk and ½ cup of cream and gradually add 1 cup of P.A.N. Pre-cooked White Corn Meal, ½ cup rice flour and 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Combine well. Add the chicken and cheese and continue to mix until the batter thickens. Let sit for 5 minutes. Using two spoons, shape into thick cylinders. Dredge with P.A.N. Pre-cooked White Corn Meal. Fry them in plenty of hot oil until golden.
Onion Rings
Ingredients:
- A.N. Pre-cooked White Cornmeal
- onion, sliced into rings
- eggs
- Salt and pepper
- Oil for frying
Preparation: Crack 2 eggs into a bowl, season with salt and pepper and beat. Put 1 cup of P.A.N. Pre-cooked White Cornmeal in another bowl. Set aside. In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat plenty of oil. Dip the rings in the beaten eggs and then in the P.A.N. Pre-cooked White Cornmeal. Fry the rings in the hot oil. Transfer to paper towels to drain, season with salt and pepper and serve.
Churros
Ingredients:
- A.N. Pre-cooked White Cornmeal
- milk
- water
- cocoa powder
- salt
- sugar
- Oil for frying
- sugar for sprinkling
Preparation: In a bowl combine 1 ¾ cups of milk, 1 ½ cups of water, a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar. In a pot, heat enough oil for frying. Combine ¼ cup of cocoa powder with 1 ½ cups P.A.N. Pre-cooked White Cornmeal and add the milk, stirring vigorously. Spoon the mixture into a churro maker or a pastry bag fitted with a grooved tip. Squeeze the dough directly into the hot oil. Cook until golden. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with sugar immediately. Serve hot.
Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
- A.N. Pre-cooked White Corn Meal
- rice flour
- cornstarch
- salt
- baking soda
- ground ginger
- ground nutmeg
- ground cinnamon
- margarine
- brown sugar
- egg
- honey
- water
Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 °F. Grease a baking tray with butter. Set aside. Mix ¾ cup of rice flour, ¼ cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of P.A.N. Pre-cooked White Corn Meal, ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 tablespoon of ground ginger, ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg and ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a bowl. Set aside. Whisk ½ cup of butter, ½ cup of sugar and one egg in a separate bowl until creamy and smooth. Add ½ cup of honey and ¾ cup of water. Add the flour mixture stirring constantly until even. Strain the dough over parchment paper on a flat surface with a rolling pin to form ¼ inch base. Cut with a cookie cutter, place the figures on the tray and bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven. Let it cool before serving.
These are some of the dishes that can be prepared using P.A.N. Pre-cooked Cornmeal as a base. Now you know that Arepa is one of the thousands of recipes that can be created using Precooked Corn Flour. The options are sweet, savory, and for all kinds of tastes, it is just a matter of letting your imagination fly and inventing in the kitchen.