Easy and delicious Venezuelan arepas

Arepas are not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make! I’m filling them with a veggie version of Venezuela most popular filling ‘Reina Pepiada’ by substituting the chicken breast with eggs 👌And adding a bit of manchego cheese to the dough because cheese makes everything better right?

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🌱Vegan (filling vegetarian with vegan option)

🌾Gluten-free

🍴3 arepas

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Ingredients

🌽For arepa

• 1 cup warm water

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 cup pre-cooked cornflour (PAN flour)

• 50g manchego cheese, grated

• 2 tbsp olive oil for cooking

🥑For filling

• 1 avocado, diced

• 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped

• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

• 2 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• Coriander leaves, chopped

• Salt to taste

🌽Method

• Mix water and salt in a bowl and stir to evenly combine

• Add flour slowly and combine with your hands. Add the manchego cheese and continue mixing. Aim to end up with a dough that doesn't stick to the hands, is moldable and can be rolled in a ball (add a bit of extra water if it feels dry). Cover for 5-10 min and leave it to rest so the flour absorbs the water

• Dice the dough in six pieces and roll each into a ball. Press each ball with the palm of your hands to form a flat disc (if it cracks a lot the dough needs a bit more water)

• Place a frying pan with the oil at medium heat and cook the arepas for a couple of minutes on each side until golden brown

• Bake in the oven for 10 more minutes in an oven pre heated at 180C to make sure they are throughly cooked

• Meanwhile make the filling by adding all ingredients to a bowl and mashing with a fork until obtaining a homogeneous mix

• Remove arepas from oven and let them cool for 5-10 min and then slice with a sharp knife 3/4 so you can stuff them like a pitta with your prepared filling

FAQS and Tips

• How big should my arepas be? The size is up to you! If I am making one for lunch for myself I like to make big ones whereas for a starter at a dinner party I prefer smaller sized ones

• Can I store the dough? Yes, you can store the dough wrapped in cling film and freeze it. Otherwise you can also fry them, keep them in the fridge and reheat them in the oven for 10 minutes at 180C

• Can I use other fillings? Of course! I also love to stuff them with black beans and guacamole, jackfruit and cheese or plaintain, blackbeans and cheese.