When it comes to dishes based on corn flour, one of the best recipes is the arepa , a very versatile food.
Tortillas or changas, as the arepa is also known , are a food that uses corn flour as raw material. It is a common dish in Latin American regions, specifically in the Andean regions of Venezuela and Colombia. It is a traditional icon that symbolizes aboriginal customs in Venezuela and that for cultural reasons has been transmitted to all generations, it has even transcended borders until reaching our country.
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An arepa contains approximately between 98 to 110 grams of dough, in this portion 215 calories and 36g of carbohydrates are consumed, in addition, you can accompany it with any garnish. It is common to accompany it with meat, chicken, scrambled eggs or cheese. It is also traditional to accompany it with a ''trujillano mojito'', recently recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. And an essential dish to make if you want to eat arepa is the ''Reina Pepiada'' that represents the Venezuelan woman, a salad garnish prepared with avocado.
You can make the arepa roasted, fried or baked in any of these presentations, you will surely enjoy it. Once you try it, you will not stop eating it!
RECIPE TO MAKE AREPAS
Ingredients (5 units):
For the arepas:
- 250 g white corn flour for arepas
- 270 ml warm mineral water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons mild oil
For the filling:
- 1 small green pepper
- 1 small onion
- 1 cayenne
- 2 small tomatoes or 1 large
- 1 can of natural tuna
- 250 g avocado
- salt
- Oil
- Vinegar or lemon juice (to drizzle the avocado and prevent it from oxidizing)
Preparation (1 hour approx.):
1. Heat the oven to 180ºC.
2. In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and water. Add the oil and knead until a homogeneous dough is formed.
3. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for 10 minutes.
4. Chop the onion and pepper and fry together with a cayenne.
5. Let the onion and pepper cool
6. Divide the dough into 5 parts and form 5 balls. Flatten each ball with your hands until it is 1 cm thick.
7. Put the arepas in a pan or grill over low heat and roast them until golden.
8. Place the arepas on a baking tray and bake them for about 10 minutes.
9. For the filling, in a bowl mix the onion, pepper, chopped tomatoes, and the can of tuna. Cut the avocado in half and sprinkle it with vinegar or lemon, mash it and add to the mixture. Add salt and more vinegar or lemon and mix very well.
10. Remove the arepas from the oven and let them cool.
11. Cut the warm arepas in half, fill them and serve immediately.
Enjoy!