Arepas are the new tacos
A few years ago, you couldn’t escape tacos in every color, flavor, and size. Now it seems the arepa is finally making its debut. What exactly is it? Where can you eat it? And how do you make it yourself?
What are arepas?
The arepa is the ultimate street food of Colombia and Venezuela. Round corn cakes, filled with all kinds of things. Think of the flavor and texture of a tortilla and the size and shape of a somewhat thick pita bread. They are eaten as a snack or as part of a meal.
Where do arepas come from?
Opinions are divided on their exact origin: ask a Venezuelan and they’ll tell you that the most authentic—and tastiest—arepas come from Venezuela; ask a Colombian and you’ll hear the same about Colombian arepas.
They aren’t actually very different. Both are made from cornmeal, similar to Mexican gorditas and Salvadoran pupusas. The main difference is that Venezuelan arepas are normally filled with various ingredients, while Colombian arepas are usually simply filled with cheese or eggs.
How do you make arepas?
Arepas are made from balls of precooked cornmeal, water, and salt. The balls are flattened, grilled, and finished in the oven or deep-fried. You can find the recipe here. Or check out this handy GIF:
Next, they are—if you go for the Venezuelan version—generously filled. Think melted cheese, eggs, tomatoes, guacamole, tuna salad, chorizo, chicken, black beans, and shredded beef. In the mood for a classic? Go for the arepa de pabellón: filled with pulled beef and black beans and topped with grated cheese and hot sauce.
Where can you buy arepas?
Don’t feel like cooking, or want to get some inspiration first? You can visit these places:
Amsterdam:
Rotterdam:
- Don Arepa
- Arepa Hot Brasserie (Closed, but you can still order via: 0645963865 – Ada Ramos)
The Hague:
Groningen:
Also read:
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- Are you allowed to hide snacks from your housemates in quarantine?
- You’re doing it wrong! This is how to close the cornflakes box
