Crispy Cheese Arepas
Golden, crispy-outside arepas stuffed with melted cheese — ready in 15 minutes with just cornmeal, cheese, and oil. Serve with avocado or your favorite sauce.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 385
- Protein
- 9g
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups cornmeal (arepa flour / masa harina)
- 1.25 cups water, warm
- ¾ tsp salt
- 4 oz white cheese (queso fresco, mozzarella, or Oaxaca)
- ½ cup neutral oil
Instructions
- 1
Mix cornmeal, warm water, and salt in a bowl until it resembles wet sand, about 1 minute.
- 2
Let the dough rest 3 minutes until it firms up and stops sticking to your hands.
- 3
Form 4 oval patties, each about 3 inches wide and 0.5 inches thick, using wet hands.
- 4
Cut cheese into small pieces and press one piece into the center of each patty, then seal the edges.
- 5
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high until it shimmers, about 90 seconds.
- 6
Fry arepas 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy, working in batches if needed.
Tools you’ll need
- large mixing bowl
- 12-inch skillet or larger
- wooden spoon or spatula
- wet hands or parchment for shaping
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