Cornmeal Pancakes (Arepa)
Arepas are fried or baked yellow or white corn pancakes, either plain or with a filling. Many Venezuelans and Colombians eat them in place of bread, often at breakfast. They are one of the national dishes of Venezuela and there are many food stands or small restaurants called areperas which specialize in the making of these small delights. Arepas have been an important staple in the diets of the poor Venezuelan's diet for centuries; today they are eaten by rich and poor alike.
Ingredients
- 2.4 cups (500 g) corn flour for arepas
- 1.2 tsp salt
- 0.6 cup (140 g) grated white cheese
- 2.4 cups (500 g) cool water (or more if needed)
Ingredients for 5 servings (1.1 kg) · the original recipe
Method
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and white cheese. Stir in enough water to make a firm, slightly moist dough.
- 2
Cover the dough and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- 3
Divide the dough into 10 pieces and form each piece into a ball. Flatten the ball slightly.
- 4
Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
Oven - 5
Oil a griddle very lightly and warm it over medium heat. Cook the arepas on the griddle for about 5 minutes on each side, until a golden brown crust forms.
Stovetop - 6
Transfer the arepas to a baking sheet and bake 20–25 minutes, turning them several times as they bake.
Oven - 7
Serve immediately, with cheese, ham and black beans.
Recipe from Wikibooks Cookbook, written by Wikibooks contributors. Used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; the ingredient list and method on this page are taken from that page and edited (its notes, tips and variations are not reproduced), and are available under the same licence. The macros, equipment tags and scaling are Ma Kitchen’s own and are not the source’s figures. Ma Kitchen is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wikibooks Cookbook. Copied on 2026-11-12.
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