Description
Homemade arepas filled with gooey cheese, combining delightful crunch and cheesy goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups masarepa (pre-cooked white cornmeal)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup Cotija cheese, finely crumbled
- 1 tablespoon butter (softened)
- 1 1/4 cup warm water (plus more if needed)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 8 ounces)
- Oil or butter for cooking
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the masarepa, salt, crumbled Cotija cheese, softened butter, and warm water. Stir until evenly mixed.
- Knead the mixture until a smooth dough forms. The dough should feel similar to homemade play-dough and not sticky.
- Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.
- After resting, check the consistency of the dough; if it’s too dry, add additional water one tablespoon at a time until pliable.
- With lightly moistened hands, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then gently pat them into circles approximately 5 inches in diameter and about 1/4 inch thick.
- Place a couple of tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese in the center of each circle, leaving about a 1/2-inch border.
- Place a second dough circle on top and seal the edges by pressing them together. Smooth the edges to form a disk about 1/2 inch thick. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat or an electric griddle to 325ºF, adding butter to coat the surface.
- Place the arepas in the skillet or griddle and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Serve warm with additional butter if desired.
Notes
Masarepa is essential for the right texture; feel free to experiment with different cheese blends for unique flavors.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 arepa
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 10mg