Arepas are a gift from Venezuela and Columbia. However, they are found throughout the Latin countries and the Caribbean. They are made of precooked cornmeal, either white or yellow with very fine granules, sometimes called Harina de Maiz, not to be confused with Masa Harina which is used for tortillas. Arepa flour, Instant Precooked Cornmeal, is available in Latin and Caribbean markets. P.A.N. and Goya are two common brands. If you can’t find Instant Cornmeal, look for Instant Polenta in the Italian isle of major supermarkets.
The traditional recipe is instant cornmeal, salt and boiling water, fried on a dry griddle and baked in a hot oven until they sound hollow when tapped. IMUSA has an electric arepa maker that browns and bakes them in about 10 minutes depending upon their thickness. The Imusa Arepa Maker can be found at Target stores and Amazon.com. They’re also available direct from Imusa. read more
Tags: arepa variations, arepas, cornmeal pockets, instant cornmeal recipes, Latin cornmeal biscuits, Latin/Caribbean cooking, polenta, quick and easy arepas, S.A. recipes
