Three golden Venezuelan arepas with different fillings served on a wooden plate.

Venezuela · Venezuelan

Venezuelan Arepas

A practical Venezuelan arepa recipe made with precooked corn flour, water and salt, with simple fillings that adapt by version and restriction.

  • Venezuelan
  • 28 min total time
  • 2 base servings

Country

Venezuela

Cuisine

Venezuelan

Servings

2 servings

Prep

10 min

Cook

18 min

Total

28 min

Makes 4 small arepas, enough for 2 servings.

Fillings are optional and can change the diet and allergy tags.

Adapt this recipe

Customize this recipe

Adjust servings, version and allergens or avoidances to fit this recipe to your context.

Servings

Adapted for 2 servings

Version

Active version: Classic

Allergens & avoidances

Choose if needed

Adaptation status

Servings: 2 · Version: Classic · Check ingredients below

Always check ingredient labels and cross-contamination warnings.

Classic

The familiar cheese-filled arepa style, with fresh white cheese as an optional filling.

This version

  • Classic
  • Vegetarian
  • Contains dairy
  • Contains lactose

Version

  • Classic

Free from

  • Gluten

Contains

  • Dairy
  • Lactose

Ingredients

  • 200 g precooked white corn flour Use masarepa-style flour labelled gluten-free, not raw cornmeal or polenta.
  • 250 ml warm water
  • 3 g fine salt
  • 5 ml neutral oil Use just enough to lightly coat the pan.
  • 80 g fresh white cheese, optional Optional filling. Contains milk and lactose.

Cooking method

Pan

  1. Mix the dough

    Add the warm water and salt to a bowl. Sprinkle in the corn flour gradually while mixing with your hand or a spoon until a soft, hydrated dough forms.

  2. Rest and shape

    Rest the dough for 5 minutes so the flour hydrates. Divide it into 4 pieces and shape each one into a thick disc about 1.5 cm deep.

  3. Cook on the pan

    Warm a lightly oiled pan over medium heat. Cook the arepas for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until the surface is dry with golden patches.

  4. Open and fill

    Let the arepas cool for 2 minutes, then split them open with a knife. Add cheese, avocado, beans or another filling you like.

Frequently asked questions

What flour should I use for arepas?

Use precooked white corn flour, often sold as masarepa-style flour. Choose one labelled gluten-free if needed. The corn base is part of the identity of the dish.

Which version should I choose if I avoid lactose or milk protein?

Choose the vegan version. It removes cheese and uses avocado with black beans instead.

Can I change the number of servings?

Yes. Use the Recipyx servings buttons and the scalable ingredient amounts will update for the selected serving count.