Arepa, Colombian

Ingredients

• 2 cups white cornmeal, or arepa flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese , 4 oz (or another white cheese. Traditional choices are queso campesino or queso costeño)
• 3 tbsp butter, softened, divided

Directions

Step One: Mix the Dough

1. In a large bowl, place 2 cups white cornmeal, 1 tsp salt, 2 cups water, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and 2 tbsp of butter. Use your hands to mix the dough thoroughly. Cover with a towel and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Step Two: Form Your Arepas

1. Separate the dough into 8 sections and roll each section into a ball. Press the ball flat in your hand until about ½” thick. Press the edges with your hands so that no cracks form.
2. Warm a cast iron skillet or an electric griddle and then grease with 1 tbsp of butter.
3. Place four arepas in the pan and cook over low-medium heat for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Then flip and heat on the other side for about 3-4 minutes, or until a crust is formed on both sides. Slice with a serrated knife or top with your favorite filling and enjoy!
4. If you find that your arepas are cracking when you try to cook them, keep a bowl of water nearby, dip your fingers in it, and use that tiny bit of water to smooth out any cracks in the dough.
5. Some chefs like to place the water into the bowl first and then add the flour slowly to prevent any lumps of flour. I’ve also seen chefs add water to the flour so that they are careful not to add too much water. If you run into any issues, try doing it the other way the next time.
6. Venezuelan-style arepas are often stuffed with toppings, rather than topped. You can stuff your dough balls with your favorite ingredients or favorite meat before cooking to try this way.
7. Filling Ideas:
8. [recipe:Carnitas, Crockpot, Easy]
9. [recipe:Chicken, Spicy Shredded Chipotle]
10. Cotija cheese
11. Magic Green Sauce:
12. [recipe:Green Sauce, 5 minute]