{"id":185,"date":"2026-07-15T05:06:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T05:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/julianahensdev.wpenginepowered.com\/how-to-make-arepas-in-the-united-states\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T04:31:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T04:31:37","slug":"how-to-make-arepas-in-the-united-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/julianahenson.com\/en\/how-to-make-arepas-in-the-united-states\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Arepas in the United States"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.jh-art{font-size:17px;line-height:1.75}\n.jh-art .jh-lead{font-size:20px;line-height:1.65;color:#43362D}\n.jh-art h2{margin:1.5em 0 .5em}\n.jh-dgrid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(170px,1fr));gap:18px 22px;background:#FAF5EC;border:1px solid #EFE6D8;border-radius:4px;padding:24px;margin:1.6em 0}\n.jh-dgrid dt{font-size:11px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#B03052;margin:0 0 4px}\n.jh-dgrid dd{margin:0;font-weight:500;color:#2B1D16}\n.jh-steps{list-style:none;counter-reset:st;margin:1.2em 0;padding:0}\n.jh-steps li{counter-increment:st;position:relative;padding:2px 0 20px 54px}\n.jh-steps li::before{content:counter(st);position:absolute;left:0;top:0;width:36px;height:36px;border-radius:50%;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#D6246E,#F2A324);color:#fff;font-weight:600;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center}\n.jh-ings{columns:2;column-gap:32px;margin:1em 0;padding-left:20px}\n.jh-ings li{margin:0 0 8px;break-inside:avoid}\n.jh-card{background:#EFE6D8;border-radius:4px;padding:20px 24px;margin:1.4em 0}\n.jh-note{border-left:3px solid #D6246E;background:#FAF5EC;padding:12px 18px;margin:1.4em 0}\n.jh-artph{background:linear-gradient(140deg,#F7DCE7,#F6E3C8);border-radius:4px;min-height:280px;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:center;padding:14px;margin:1.6em 0}\n.jh-artph span{font-size:10px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#B03052}\n.jh-avid{background:linear-gradient(140deg,#2B1D16,#43362D);border-radius:4px;aspect-ratio:16\/9;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;margin:1.6em 0}\n.jh-avid span{font-size:11px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#F6E3C8}\n.jh-share{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;margin:2.2em 0 0;padding-top:18px;border-top:1px solid #EFE6D8}\n.jh-share b{font-size:11px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#43362D}\n.jh-share a{display:inline-block;padding:8px 16px;border:1.5px solid #2B1D16;border-radius:2px;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;color:#2B1D16;text-decoration:none}\n.jh-share a:hover{background:#D6246E;border-color:#D6246E;color:#fff}\n.jh-print{display:inline-block;padding:10px 20px;background:#2B1D16;color:#fff;border-radius:2px;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:1px;cursor:pointer;border:0}\n@media(max-width:640px){.jh-ings{columns:1}}\n@media print{.jh-share,.jh-avid,.et-l--header,.et-l--footer{display:none!important}}\n.et-l--body .et_pb_row:has(.not-found-title){display:none}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"jh-art\">\n<p class=\"jh-lead\">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&#8217;s easier to find than you think.<\/p>\n<dl class=\"jh-dgrid\">\n<div>\n<dt>Region of Colombia<\/dt>\n<dd>All over Colombia<\/dd>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<dt>Prep time<\/dt>\n<dd>15 minutes<\/dd>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<dt>Cook time<\/dt>\n<dd>20 minutes<\/dd>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<dt>Servings<\/dt>\n<dd>8 arepas (about 4 people)<\/dd>\n<\/div>\n<\/dl>\n<h2>The one ingredient that matters<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jh-card\">\n<p><strong>You need masarepa<\/strong>, which is precooked corn flour. Look for <strong>P.A.N.<\/strong> (the yellow bag with the lady) or <strong>Goya masarepa<\/strong> in the Latin aisle of Walmart or Kroger, on Amazon, or in any Latin market.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0\"><strong>Careful:<\/strong> masarepa is <em>not<\/em> masa harina (that&#8217;s nixtamalized, for tortillas) and <em>not<\/em> cornmeal (that&#8217;s raw). Neither will work. The bag should say &#8220;masarepa,&#8221; &#8220;harina precocida,&#8221; or &#8220;pre-cooked corn meal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Ingredients<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"jh-ings\">\n<li>2 cups (240 g) masarepa (white or yellow)<\/li>\n<li>2\u00bd cups (600 ml) warm water<\/li>\n<li>1 teaspoon salt<\/li>\n<li>1 tablespoon butter, softened (optional, for a softer arepa)<\/li>\n<li>1 cup (110 g) grated mozzarella or queso fresco (optional)<\/li>\n<li>Butter or neutral oil for the griddle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>U.S. substitutions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jh-note\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0\">Can&#8217;t find <strong>queso coste\u00f1o<\/strong>? Mix crumbled feta with mozzarella; salty plus melty gets you close. No <strong>budare<\/strong>? A cast-iron or nonstick skillet works perfectly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Step by step<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"jh-steps\">\n<li>Dissolve the salt in the warm water in a large bowl.<\/li>\n<li>Add the masarepa little by little, mixing with your fingers as you go. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes; it will thicken.<\/li>\n<li>Knead for 1\u20132 minutes until smooth. If it cracks when you press it, add water one tablespoon at a time.<\/li>\n<li>Divide into 8 balls. Flatten each between your palms into a disc about \u00bd inch (1.5 cm) thick, smoothing the edges with a wet finger.<\/li>\n<li>Heat a skillet over medium heat and grease it lightly with butter or oil.<\/li>\n<li>Cook 6\u20138 minutes per side, until golden with those toasted spots that make an arepa an arepa.<\/li>\n<li>For cheese arepas: split them open while hot and fill with cheese, or mix the cheese straight into the dough before forming.<\/li>\n<li>Serve hot, with butter and salt, with hot chocolate, or with scrambled eggs for a full Colombian breakfast.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"jh-note\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0\">A step-by-step video of this recipe is coming soon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"jh-print\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this recipe<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"jh-card\">My exact pantry brands (flour, cheese, chocolate) are coming to the <a href=\"\/en\/shop\/\">Shop<\/a> section with links soon.<\/div>\n<div class=\"jh-share\"><b>Share<\/b><br \/>\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u='+encodeURIComponent(location.href),'_blank','noopener');return false\">Facebook<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&#038;text='+encodeURIComponent(document.title),'_blank','noopener');return false\">X<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href),'_blank','noopener');return false\">Pinterest<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text='+encodeURIComponent(document.title+' '+location.href),'_blank','noopener');return false\">WhatsApp<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Recipe\",\"name\":\"How to Make Arepas in the United States\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Juliana Henson\"},\"description\":\"Authentic Colombian arepas made with masarepa you can find in any U.S. supermarket, with cheese substitutions and step-by-step instructions.\",\"recipeCuisine\":\"Colombian\",\"recipeCategory\":\"Breakfast\",\"prepTime\":\"PT15M\",\"cookTime\":\"PT20M\",\"totalTime\":\"PT35M\",\"recipeYield\":\"8 arepas\",\"keywords\":\"arepas, Colombian food, masarepa\",\"recipeIngredient\":[\"2 cups (240 g) masarepa (precooked corn flour)\",\"2 1\/2 cups (600 ml) warm water\",\"1 teaspoon salt\",\"1 tablespoon butter, softened (optional)\",\"1 cup (110 g) grated mozzarella or queso fresco (optional)\",\"Butter or neutral oil for the griddle\"],\"recipeInstructions\":[{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"text\":\"Dissolve the salt in the warm water in a large bowl.\"},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"text\":\"Add the masarepa little by little, mixing with your fingers. 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The good news for those of us building a life in the United States: you only need one special ingredient, and it&#8217;s easier to find than you think. 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