Calling all corn and cheese lovers! Get ready to embark on a culinary journey to Venezuela, where flavors dance and tradition takes center stage. Arepas, a beloved Venezuelan staple, awaits you, promising a symphony of flavors and textures in every bite. These griddle cakes, crafted from simple yet magical ingredients, embody the spirit of Venezuelan cuisine, offering a comforting and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
But this article doesn't stop at the classic corn and cheese arepas. It takes you on an exploratory adventure through a variety of arepa recipes, each offering a unique twist on this iconic dish. From the savory delight of black bean and plantain arepas to the sweet and tangy pineapple arepas, this article has something for every palate.
Dive into the secrets of making the perfect arepa dough, ensuring it's soft and fluffy on the inside while boasting a crispy, golden-brown exterior. Discover the art of crafting the perfect filling, where flavors and textures unite to create an explosion of taste in your mouth. And don't forget the toppings! From the classic shredded beef to the creamy avocado, the possibilities are endless, allowing you to customize your arepa experience to your heart's content.
So, buckle up and prepare to be tantalized as we explore the world of corn and cheese griddle cakes, better known as arepas. With our comprehensive guide, you'll master the art of making these Venezuelan delights, impressing your family and friends with your culinary prowess. Get ready to experience the magic of arepas, where tradition, flavor, and versatility intertwine to create a dish that will leave you craving more.
CHEESY CORN CAKES
These cheesy corn cakes are incredibly easy to make- just drop the batter onto the skillet and cook until golden brown. Inspired by Venezuelan arepas, these cakes will melt in your mouth with each bite.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 22m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Finely grind cornmeal in blender, 1/4 cup at a time. Transfer to large bowl. Mix in cheese, 2 tablespoons butter and salt. Add enough boiling water to mixture to make very thick batter. Stir in corn.
- Heat griddle or large skillet over medium heat with some of remaining melted butter. Working in batches and using 1 tablespoon batter for each corn cake, drop batter onto skillet and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Serve hot.
HOMEMADE SOUTH AMERICAN AREPAS
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a mixing bowl, stir the salt into the masarepa cornmeal.
- Pour 2 3/4 cups of hot water over the flour and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- Stir in the melted butter.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes.
- If you want thicker arepas, separate the dough into 12 pieces. For thinner arepas, divide the dough into 18 pieces.
- Shape each piece into a smooth ball. Add more water if needed-the dough should be moist enough so that you can shape the arepas without the dough forming lots of cracks around the edges.
- Place each ball in between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and flatten gently with the bottom of a pot. Thick arepas should be about 3 inches in diameter and almost 1-inch thick. Thin arepas should be about 3 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick.
- Use your fingers to smooth out any cracks along the edges.
- Place the shaped arepas on a cookie sheet covered with plastic wrap.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet on low heat. Put 1/2 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil in the skillet.
- Place several arepas in the pan, leaving room to turn them.
- Cook the arepas for about 5 minutes on each side. The surface should dry and form a crust. They will brown slightly but do not let them brown too much. They should look like an English muffin. If they are browning too fast, lower the heat. Add more butter or oil for subsequent batches as needed.
- The thinner arepas are done when they have formed a nice crust but are still soft on the inside. For thicker arepas, finish cooking in the oven: After they have formed a crust and are just a bit browned, place them on a cookie sheet and heat for 8 to 10 minutes at 350 F.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Cholesterol 4 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 90 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 2 g, ServingSize 12 to 18 arepas, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
CORN AND CHEESE GRIDDLE CAKES (AREPAS)
These little Venezuelan griddle cakes, known as arepas in Spanish, can be eaten at any time of the day, topped with cheese, meat, chicken, or eggs. You can top them with roast pork or a spoonful of pico de gallo as a delicious side or tempting appetizer. You use nonstick cooking spray quite a bit for this, but I like to use an olive oil spritzer. Enjoy!
Provided by Nif_H
Categories Cheese
Time 25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Put the cornmeal and salt in a food processor and process until finely ground. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the cheese and butter.
- Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until almost boiling. Gradually stir enough of the milk into the cornmeal mixture to make a very thick batter. Stir in the corn.
- Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray and set over medium heat. Drop half of the cornmeal mixture, 1 heaping tablespoon at a time, in 6 mounds in the skillet. Flatten slightly and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Spray the griddle cakes with nonstick spray and turn. Cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes, transferring them to a platter when they are done; keep warm. Repeat with the remaining cornmeal mixture to make a total of 12 griddle cakes. Serve with Pico de Gallo, if using.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 113.3, Fat 3.5, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 9.4, Sodium 205.9, Carbohydrate 16.1, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 2.3, Protein 5.5
AREPAS WITH CHEESE AND CORN
Originally from Venezuela, so it is said, arepas are perhaps best described as cornmeal-based English muffins. I like them better fried than baked, but they're good either way. There are two-faced griddles for baking them; you might try a waffle iron. Make sure you buy whole-grain cornmeal, which is usually stone ground.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, lunch, appetizer, main course
Time 45m
Yield 8 to 12 arepas
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put cornmeal in a large bowl with salt and cheese. Put milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until steam rises, then add butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir into cornmeal mixture until a thick batter is formed. Fold in the corn kernels, scallion, cilantro and chili if using.
- Let batter rest until it thickens into a soft dough, about 15 minutes. Gently form 3- to 4-inch balls from mixture and flatten with palm of your hand to a 1/2-inch-thick disk. (You can cover and refrigerate disks for a few hours if you like.)
- Heat oil in a large skillet and cook arepas, working in batches, until golden brown, about 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes on other side. When all arepas are cooked and cool enough to handle, carefully slice them through the middle. If desired, serve with butter or stuff with beans, vegetables or sour cream.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 145, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 142 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
GRIDDLE CORN CAKES
"This is a downsized version of a recipe that belonged to my husband's mother and has been in their family for 80 years," shares Myrna Gerson of Staten Island, New York. "My husband and I got married 30 years ago, and I've been making these griddle cakes ever since."
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 20m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine the egg, corn, milk and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. , Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot nonstick griddle. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 359 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 108mg cholesterol, Sodium 792mg sodium, Carbohydrate 72g carbohydrate (18g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 11g protein.
Tips:
- Use fresh corn: Fresh corn will give your arepas a sweeter, more flavorful taste. If you don't have fresh corn, you can use frozen or canned corn, but be sure to drain it well before using.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter will make your arepas tough. Mix the ingredients just until they are combined.
- Cook the arepas over medium heat: Cooking the arepas over medium heat will help them cook evenly without burning.
- Serve the arepas hot: Arepas are best served hot, so eat them as soon as they are cooked.
Conclusion:
Corn and cheese griddle cakes, also known as arepas, are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are easy to make and can be customized with a variety of toppings and fillings. Whether you like them simple or dressed up, arepas are a great way to enjoy the flavors of corn and cheese.
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