Arepas: Food Of Ground Maize Dough

Arepa is the most common food item and an important part of Venezuelan and Colombian diet. It is an unleavened round flat bread made from corn flour, water, and salt. Corn now is the principal cereal grain consumed by humans in Latin America and the main source of calories and protein.

The diameter of arepas may vary according to use. While occasionally arepas are eaten plain as a substitute for bread with stews, they are traditionally sliced open after cooking and stuffed with fillings such as black beans, cheese, avocado, peas, and various meats.

A special arepa in Venezuela (called the pabellón) incorporates the elements of the national dish by filling arepas with fried plantains, black beans, chicken, and cheese. Often, arepas are topped with a spicy sauce called guasaca that is comprised of blended avocado, parsley, green bell pepper, onion, garlic, oil, and vinegar.

Arepas can be homemade from masa, a dough made from precooked, washed and milled corn. Masa should be soft, cohesive, homogeneous and non-sticky. The corn dough then cooked on a traditional iron griddle called a budare.
Arepas: Food Of Ground Maize Dough