If you grew up in a Colombian home, you know the sound: the soft sizzle of arepas on the griddle before school, before work, before anything. The good news for those of us building a life in the United States — you only need one special ingredient, and it’s easier to find than you think.
- Region of Colombia
- All over Colombia
- Prep time
- 15 minutes
- Cook time
- 20 minutes
- Servings
- 8 arepas (about 4 people)
The one ingredient that matters
You need masarepa — precooked corn flour. Look for P.A.N. (the yellow bag with the lady) or Goya masarepa in the Latin aisle of Walmart or Kroger, on Amazon, or in any Latin market.
Careful: masarepa is not masa harina (that’s nixtamalized, for tortillas) and not cornmeal (that’s raw). Neither will work. The bag should say “masarepa,” “harina precocida,” or “pre-cooked corn meal.”
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 g) masarepa (white or yellow)
- 2½ cups (600 ml) warm water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened (optional, for a softer arepa)
- 1 cup (110 g) grated mozzarella or queso fresco (optional)
- Butter or neutral oil for the griddle
U.S. substitutions
Can’t find queso costeño? Mix crumbled feta with mozzarella — salty plus melty gets you close. No budare? A cast-iron or nonstick skillet works perfectly.
Step by step
- Dissolve the salt in the warm water in a large bowl.
- Add the masarepa little by little, mixing with your fingers as you go. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes — it will thicken.
- Knead for 1–2 minutes until smooth. If it cracks when you press it, add water one tablespoon at a time.
- Divide into 8 balls. Flatten each between your palms into a disc about ½ inch (1.5 cm) thick, smoothing the edges with a wet finger.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and grease it lightly with butter or oil.
- Cook 6–8 minutes per side, until golden with those toasted spots that make an arepa an arepa.
- For cheese arepas: split them open while hot and fill with cheese, or mix the cheese straight into the dough before forming.
- Serve hot — with butter and salt, with hot chocolate, or with scrambled eggs for a full Colombian breakfast.
A step-by-step video of this recipe is coming soon.