2000s Recipes + Menus

Cheese Arepas (Arepas de Queso)

Makes24
  • Active time:50 min
  • Start to finish:50 min
June 2009
The Colombian and Venezuelan small fried corn cakes called arepas have a distinctive roasty-toasty flavor. They’re fantastic topped with a dollop of almost anything you see on the table.
  • 2 1/2 cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 cups white arepa flour
  • 1/4 lb coarsely grated queso blanco
  • 1/4 lb grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Stir together water, butter, sugar, and 1 tsp salt in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon. Add arepa flour in a slow stream, stirring. Stir in cheeses, then turn out onto a work surface and knead with your hands until smooth.
  • Heat a 2-burner heavy griddle or a 12- to 14-inch heavy skillet (not nonstick) over medium-low heat until hot. Meanwhile, divide dough into 24 equal pieces and roll into balls, then flatten into 2-inch rounds, covering them with a kitchen towel.
  • Oil griddle and cook half of arepas, turning once, until crusty and golden-brown on both sides, 8 to 10 minutes total. Continue cooking, turning occasionally, until arepas sound hollow when tapped, 18 to 20 minutes more. Cook remaining arepas in same manner.
Cooks’ notes:
  • Arepas are best when freshly made.
  • Dough can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered with plastic wrap. Bring to room temperature before using.
  • We also have a Web-exclusive recipe using the leftover arepa flour.

Ratings

Comments

Post a Comment

Please be advised that Gourmet magazine will cease publication after the November issue.

Subscribers can look forward to receiving Bon Appetit magazine for the remainder of their subscription. The Gourmet.com website will remain available during a transitional period, and access to Gourmet recipes will also remain available via sister site Epicurious.com and the Epi iPhone application.

We regret any inconvenience, and look forward to your continued readership. For questions about your Gourmet magazine subscription, please follow this link to subscription services.

The Oct. 23-25 Gourmet Institute events will not take place. Additional information is available at gourmetinstitute.com.

If you purchased the GOURMET TODAY cookbook and would like to take advantage of the offer on the back flap, click here for more information.
Subscribe to Gourmet

Conde Nast Store
Give the Gift of Gourmet

Subscribe

Subscribe to Gourmet
Diary of a Foodie

From Vermont to Vietnam, take a global culinary tour with season three of our award-winning public television show, Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie.