Arepa con queso
Thick Andean white-corn arepas with melted cheese and butter
In the Andean cities of Bogotá, Medellín and the coffee region, breakfast very often means an arepa: a thick, griddled round of white corn dough, split or topped with butter and melting fresh cheese. This Colombian arepa con queso has cheese kneaded into the dough as well as on top, so it comes out soft and steamy inside with a crisp, freckled crust. Serve it with hot chocolate, aguapanela or eggs scrambled with tomato and spring onion (huevos pericos). Chef's tip: the dough should feel like soft play dough; if the edges crack when you flatten a ball, it needs a splash more warm water.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the dough
To cook and serve
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 8 ½ oz precooked white cornmeal (masarepa) and ¾ tsp salt in a bowl. Pour in 1 ½ cups warm water and ⅔ oz butter and stir, then knead with your hand for 2 minutes until smooth and soft.
Step 2: Rest the dough for 5 minutes so the cornmeal can drink up the water, then knead in 3 ½ oz mozzarella or queso campesino.
Step 3: Divide into 4 balls. Press each between your palms, or between two sheets of baking paper, into a round about 1.5 cm thick and 10 cm across. Smooth any cracks at the edges with a wet finger.
Step 4: Heat a heavy frying pan or griddle over a medium heat and brush with 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Cook the arepas until a golden, slightly blistered crust forms and they release easily, 6–7 minutes per side.
14 minStep 5: Tap one: it should sound hollow. The common mistake is cooking on high heat, which burns the outside while the middle stays raw and pasty.
Step 6: Spread the hot arepas with 1 oz butter and top with 3 ½ oz mozzarella or queso campesino so it melts. Serve straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does arepa con queso take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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