Colombian arepas de queso

Cheese-filled corn cakes pressed into rounds and cooked on a griddle.

The cook turns an arepa in a skillet; four arepas have pale sides and golden crusts.
Makes
4 arepas
Heat
Stovetop: medium heat
Cooking time
About 3 min per side
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Colombian Arepas de Queso

Makes
4 arepas
Heat
Stovetop: medium heat
Cooking time
About 3 min per side
Colombia World collection

Colombian Arepas de Queso

Method

  1. 01 · Hydrate

    5 min

    Use: Masarepa, water, cheese, 14.8 mL butter, salt

    Mix thoroughly; rest.

    Ready when: Hydrated dough

    A cook mixes pale corn dough by hand in a steel bowl.
    01 Hydrate the corn doughMix the masarepa, warm water, grated cheese, butter and salt; leave for 5 minutes.

  2. 02 · Knead

    3 min

    Use: Dough

    Knead with damp hands.

    Ready when: Cohesive

    The cook kneads the cohesive corn dough on a steel worktop with damp hands.
    02 Knead until cohesiveUse damp hands to bring the rested dough together.

  3. 03 · Shape

    Use: Dough

    Divide into four balls; press between plastic sheets with a flat lid to 1.3 cm thick.

    Ready when: Even discs

    Three pressed arepas lie beside a fourth being flattened under a lid between plastic sheets.
    03 Press four even discsDivide into four and press each ball between plastic sheets to about 1.3 cm thick.

  4. 04 · Cook

    About 3 min per side

    Use: Remaining butter; discs

    Melt butter over medium heat; cook both sides. Serve warm.

    Ready when: Golden crust, center cooked

    The cook turns an arepa in a skillet; four arepas have pale sides and golden crusts.
    04 Cook until goldenCook both sides in butter over medium heat; serve warm once the centres are cooked.

What to look for

StageLook / feel forNeeds attention
PressEdges stay together.Deep cracks.

Troubleshooting

If you see thisLikely causeWhat to do nowNext time
Cracked edgesDry dough.Work with damp hands; gently reseal.Rest before shaping.
Dark crust, cool centerToo thick or hot.Lower heat; continue cooking.Keep discs evenly thin.

Masarepa is required; ordinary cornmeal and masa harina behave differently.

Show ingredient flow

Recipe

Colombian Arepas de Queso

Colombian cheese-and-corn griddle cakes.

How do I make it?

  1. Mix and rest

    5 min

    Mix the masarepa, warm water, cheese, 14.8 mL butter and salt thoroughly. Leave for 5 minutes so the flour absorbs the water.

    A cook mixes pale corn dough by hand in a steel bowl.
    Mix the masarepa, warm water, grated cheese, butter and salt; leave for 5 minutes.

    Ready when: Hydrated dough

  2. Knead

    3 min

    Dampen your hands and knead the dough for 3 minutes, until it holds together.

    The cook kneads the cohesive corn dough on a steel worktop with damp hands.
    Use damp hands to bring the rested dough together.

    Ready when: Cohesive

  3. Flatten

    Make four balls. Put each between plastic sheets and press with a flat lid into a disc 1.3 cm thick.

    Three pressed arepas lie beside a fourth being flattened under a lid between plastic sheets.
    Divide into four and press each ball between plastic sheets to about 1.3 cm thick.

    Ready when: Even discs

  4. Cook

    About 3 min per side

    Melt the remaining butter in a pan over medium heat. Cook the discs for about 3 minutes on each side, until golden outside and cooked in the centre. Serve warm.

    The cook turns an arepa in a skillet; four arepas have pale sides and golden crusts.
    Cook both sides in butter over medium heat; serve warm once the centres are cooked.

    Ready when: Golden crust, center cooked

What can go wrong, and how can I fix it?

What you noticeLikely causeWhat to do
Cracked edgesDry dough.Work with damp hands; gently reseal. Rest before shaping.
Dark crust, cool centerToo thick or hot.Lower heat; continue cooking. Keep discs evenly thin.
Useful recipe notes

Masarepa is required; ordinary cornmeal and masa harina behave differently.

See the detailed method and ratios in , or follow ingredients through the .

Ingredient proportions & recipe details

Colombian Arepas de Queso at a glance

Makes
4 arepas
Heat
Stovetop: medium heat
Cooking time
About 3 min per side