Crispy Beef Arepas
Golden fried corn cakes stuffed with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese—a Colombian street snack that's crispy outside, gooey inside. Ready in 15 minutes, no fussing required.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 520
- Protein
- 22g
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef
- ¾ cup white cheddar or mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1.5 cups pre-made arepa dough (or arepa flour + water)
- ¼ medium yellow onion, finely diced
- ½ tsp cumin
- ¼ cup neutral oil for frying
Instructions
- 1
Brown ground beef with diced onion in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until cooked through (~5 minutes).
- 2
Stir in cumin and a pinch of salt. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- 3
Divide arepa dough into 4 balls. Flatten each into a disc, add a spoonful of beef and a small handful of cheese, then fold and seal the edges.
- 4
Heat oil in the same skillet over medium-high until a drop of water sizzles on contact (~90 seconds).
- 5
Fry arepas 3 minutes per side until deep golden brown and crispy, working in batches if needed to avoid crowding.
- 6
Drain on a paper towel and serve hot, ideally with a dollop of sour cream or avocado on the side.
Tools you’ll need
- 12-inch skillet or frying pan
- wooden spoon
- paper towels
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