A couple of years ago I went on an incredible trip with some friends to Colombia. At the time I didn’t know much about Colombian cuisine, but I took the opportunity to learn all I could. We ate all sorts of dishes from fried empanadas with hogao sauce, soups like ajiaco and sancocho, and hearty mains such as bandeja paisa and posta negra. But if there was one thing that defined Colombian cuisine the most it would have to be the humble arepa.
They are simple pancake-shaped pieces of bread made from either white or yellow cornmeal. And hardly any Colombian meal is complete without a few of them being served on the side. But don’t think of them as the South American version of tortillas, an arepa is an entirely different thing. Their consistency is much more like cornbread, yet thinner and features a crispy outer crust. And today we are going to show you just how easy they are to make right at home.
Colombian vs Venesualen Arepas
Arepas are a staple food in both Colombian and Venezuelan cuisine. And while they’re made of the same general ingredients, they also have a few key differences.
For starters, Venezuelan areaps are typically a bit thicker than the Colombian version. This thickness allows Venezuelan arepas to be split in half and stuffed with all sorts of things like black beans, avocado, and shredded meats.
Arepas in Colombia on the other hand have a little more variety but are often flatter, wider in diameter, and crispier. For example, there is the arepa de huevo that is filled with an egg and deep-fried. The arepa de choclo, which are often sweet in taste. And the arepa de queso which is stuffed with cheese. But today we are focusing on one of the most classic types of Colombian arepa, the arepa paisa.
Tips Tricks & Suggestions
- In order to make our arepas, you will need a specific ingredient called masarepa. Essentially it’s precooked ground corn flour and you can’t make true arepas without it. I have personally found it readily available in the Latin American section of most of my local grocery stores, specifically where they sell the goya products. However, if you are having trouble getting your hands on masarepa I will provide a link below where you can purchase “P.A.N.” one of the most popular masarepa brands.
- Want to make some Venezuelan arepas instead of the Colombian version? Then simply prepare the arepa dough as instructed below. However, instead of smashing the dough into flat disks, form them by hand into disks that are ½ to ¾ inch thick.
- Similarly, if you want to make an arepa de queso then simply add ⅔ cup of your favorite shredded cheese to the arepa dough during step 1.
- Don’t want to fry up your arepas in a pan? Then try out baking them. Start by placing the arepas on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Then set them in a 350℉ oven and let them bake for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. You will know they are done when they have a golden brown crust.
Arepa Recipe
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8 arepas
Ingredient
2 Cups of warm water
1 Teaspoon of salt
2 Cups of pre-cooked white or yellow masarepa (P.A.N. brand)
4 Tablespoons of butter or oil
Instructions
- Make the arepa dough: Dissolve the teaspoon of salt into 2 cups of warm water in a large mixing bowl. Slowly mix in the mararepa with your hands until everything is combined. Set this aside and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then knead the mixture with your hands for a couple of minutes until it forms a soft and slightly moist dough.
- Form the arepas: Divide the dough into 8 pieces and form them into balls. Place one of these balls between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper. Then use a heavy flat pan to flatten the ball until it forms a ¼ inch thick disk.
Set this aside and repeat this step until all balls are flattened into disks.
- Cook the arepas: Melt the butter in the same pan over medium heat, or simply heat up oil if you prefer. Place the flattened arepas into the pan a cook on each side for roughly 2 to 3 minutes or until a golden-brown crust forms.
- Serve the warm arepas immediately and enjoy!
Arepa Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups of warm water
- 1 Teaspoon of salt
- 2 Cups of pre-cooked white or yellow masarepa P.A.N. brand
- 4 Tablespoons of butter or oil
Instructions
- Make the arepa dough: Dissolve the teaspoon of salt into 2 cups of warm water in a large mixing bowl. Slowly mix in the mararepa with your hands until everything is combined. Set this aside and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then knead the mixture with your hands for a couple of minutes until it forms a soft and slightly moist dough.
- Form the arepas: Divide the dough into 8 pieces and form them into balls. Place one of these balls between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper. Then use a heavy flat pan to flatten the ball until it forms a ¼ inch thick disk. Set this aside and repeat this step until all balls are flattened into disks.
- Cook the arepas: Melt the butter in the same pan over medium heat, or simply heat up oil if you prefer. Place the flattened arepas into the pan a cook on each side for roughly 2 to 3 minutes or until a golden-brown crust forms.
- Serve the warm arepas immediately and enjoy!
