The richness of Venezuelan flavor and aroma can be experienced from the recipe of Arepa. Arepa is a traditional Venezuela food item, which is also the national bread of Venezuela. The shops that sell Arepas are known as Areperias. Stuffed with all kinds of ingredients, these small corn cakes are the hot favorites both among the Venezuelans and the tourists as well. The corn that is used to make Arepas is called masarepa or masa precocida. These corns are pre-cooked and then made into the required recipe.
Arepa Ingredients
The ingredients that are required for making this culinary delicacy of Arepa in Venezuela are:
2 cups of pre-cooked cornmeal
1/2 tsp of salt
3 cups of boiling water
Oil for sauteing
Arepa recipe
That five basic steps that are included in the making of Arepa are mixing, kneading, resting, forming, sauteing and baking. Arepa recipe includes the following steps:
- cornmeal and salt are mixed in a large bowl. 2 1/2 cup boiling water is poured. The contents are then mixed to form a dough. It is then covered with a plastic wrap or a towel and left to rest for 5-10 minutes.
- The oven is preheated to 400º. Small balls are formed with wet hands from approximately 1/4 cup of dough. It is them pressed to form a cake. A little more water should be added if the edges of the cake seem to be cracking.
- A skillet is heated over medium-high heat and is then poured in a thin layer of oil. Each side of the cake should then be sauted for 5 to 6 minutes, until a thick crust is formed and they get a brown color.
- The prepared cakes should then be transferred to a baking sheet and baked for 15-20 minutes. The Arepa is ready to be served hot.
Arepas can be made with different kinds of fillings. Some of them are:
- Arepa de Pabellón, which has a filling made from the combination of shredded and processed black beans and meat.
- Reina Pepeada has a filling made of mashed mayonnaise, chopped chicken and avocado.
- Arepa de Dominó has a filling of black beans and crumbled white cheese.
- Arepa de Perico has a filling of scrambled eggs mixed with peppers, tomatoes and onions.
The Arepas can be garnished with cheese or a seasoning of choice. Mouth watering and irresistible,
Arepa has become an essential food item in every Venezuelan household.
