Simple Cheesy Arepas The Gooey Kind Food

CHEESE-STUFFED AREPAS

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Stir together 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl. Gradually add the corn meal into the water, using your fingers to stir and combine, until a soft and moist dough forms.
• Divide the dough into 8 golf ball-size balls and pat each into a patty about 5-inches wide and 1/4-inch-thick.
• Put a cube of mozzarella in the center of each patty. Fold the dough over the cheese, making sure the cheese is completely covered and sealed. Pat it back down until 3-inches wide and 1/2-inch-thick (see Cook's Note).
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat until shimmering. Working in batches, cook the corn patties, until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side (making sure the oil is hot for each batch). Transfer to a cooling rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the edges are crisp and golden, about 10 minutes.

AREPAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the salt and corn meal. Add the warm water and mix until a soft, moist dough forms.
• Divide the dough into 8 even-sized balls, about 2 ½ tablespoons per ball. Use your fingers to press the balls into round discs, about 5-inches. If you would like to make them cheese-filled, carefully add a heaping tablespoon of cheese to the center of the disc and press the dough around the cheese to form a dough ball. If you do not want to fill the arepas, make the discs 3-inches with and ½ inch thick.
• Carefully press the ball until it's a disc about 3-inches wide and ½ inch thick.
• In a large skillet, bring 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-low heat. Cook the discs for 5 minutes on either side, transferring to a baking sheet. Bake all the arepas in the oven for 10 minutes, until the outside is crisp and golden. These are best served warm.

SIMPLE CHEESY AREPAS (THE GOOEY KIND)

Steps:

• If you're lazy like me, youll just sift the cornmeal and salt in a bowl together then gradually add the water. If you want a finer-ground texture and/or possess a dishwasher, you'll want to ground the cornmeal and sea salt in a food processor first to get it really fine.
• Either way, sift the two ingredients in a bowl together and gradually add the warm water until a stiff dough forms.
• Add the manchego cheese and knead for a few minutes, then roll the whole mixture into a giant ball. Add a little more water if you need to if it's falling apart/too crumbly but add more cornmeal if too watery.
• Lightly dust a surface (like a sil-pat) with some cornmeal, and place the giant ball on it. Roll out with your hands or a rolling pin to be about 1/4" thick.
• You can make the arepas any size, I got about 6 medium size ones out of this. I divided the dough into 6 pieces with a pizza cutter then placed the desired amount of mozzarella cheese into them.
• Carefully fold each arepa over, making sure the edges are totally closed. They're supposed to be pretty thin but make sure they're holding up that cheese in the middle. Don't crimp with a fork, it's likely to come apart, just use your hands.
• Heat a little olive or canola oil in a frying pan, and cook each arepa for 3-4 minutes on each side until browned.
• They're tasty by themselves but I love them with a good black bean soup and basic lettuce and tomato salad. Salsa and red almond dipping sauce make good dips too!

COLOMBIAN CORN AND CHEESE AREPAS

Steps:

• Combine the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Gradually add 3 cups warm water, mixing with your fingers, then work in 4 tablespoons of the butter. Knead to a soft dough.
• One cup at a time, knead in the cheese. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water if the mixture seems dry. Taste the dough (some cheeses are very salty), then knead in salt to taste, 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Continue kneading until the dough feels soft and smooth, with no lumps. Set aside to rest for at least 15 minutes, covered with a damp cloth.
• Heat the broiler or a grill over high heat. Divide dough into 11 portions, roughly 5 ounces or 1/2 cup each. Roll into balls between your palms and set aside on a tray covered with a damp kitchen towel. Flatten each ball into a thick circle, 3 1/2 inches in diameter, flat on both sides. Return to tray and keep covered.
• Line broiler or grill rack with aluminum foil and brush foil lightly with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Arrange arepas on foil and cook about 4 inches from the heat source, turning once, until both sides are golden brown and speckled - about 10 minutes per side. Serve immediately, for breakfast (like corn muffins) or as an accompaniment to soups or stews (like corn bread).

HOMEMADE AREPAS

Steps:

• Stir water and salt together in a bowl. Gradually stir corn meal into water with your fingers until mixture forms a soft, moist, malleable dough.
• Divide dough into 8 golf ball-size balls and pat each one into a patty about 3/8-inch thick.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Working in batches, cook corn patties in hot oil until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer cooked arepas to a paper towel-lined plate to drain until cool enough to handle.
• Slice halfway through each cake horizontally with a thin serrated knife to form a pita-like pocket.

CHEESE AREPAS

Steps:

• Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and gradually add the warm water, mixing to form a stiff dough.
• Add the cheese and knead the dough for a few minutes then form into 4 balls.
• Flatten the balls to a thickness of about 1/2 inch.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan.
• Add the arepas and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until crisp and golden, turning 3 or 4 times.
• Drain on kitchen paper.
• To Serve - split the arepas in half, place on serving plates and garnish with avocado, tomato slices and olives.