5.0 from 285 votes
Authentic Colombian cheese arepas with all the fixings
Naturally gluten-free, arepas con queso are little golden pockets of corn flour and delicious Jarlsberg cheese that will melt in your mouth with each bite. Cook them on a griddle and top them up with your favourite South American fixings - avocado, tomato, onions, more corn and a couple of delicious salsas - and feel the deliciousness of gooey-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside fried Colombian cheese arepas.Serve with my pico de gallo: https://immigrantstable.com/2018/05/03/authentic-colombian-pico-de-gallo-v-gf-paleo/Serve with my aji hot sauce: https://immigrantstable.com/2018/05/18/spicy-colombian-aji-the-best-hot-sauce/
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 358 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Main Course , Appetizer
Cuisine:
Colombian
Ingredients
Colombian cheese arepas:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup pre-cooked white or yellow arepa flour also known as masarepa - Goya and P.A.N are common brands in North America
- 1 cup Jarlsberg cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Pinch salt
Toppings:
- ¼ cup Jarlsberg cheese grated
- 1 ripe avocado sliced
- ½ pint of cherry tomatoes cut in half
- ½ red onion diced finely
- fresh cilantro chopped finely
- green onion sliced into thin circles
- ½ cup Colombian pico de gallo (or your favourite salsa)
- ⅛ cup Colombian aji (https://immigrantstable.com/2018/05/18/spicy-colombian-aji-the-best-hot-sauce/, or your favourite hot sauce)
Instructions
- Pour water into large bowl. Add arepa corn flour, salt, oil, ½ cup of Jarlsberg cheese, and mix thoroughly to combine. Cover with a towel and let dough rest for five minutes.
- Working with moist hands, remove about 3 tbsps worth of dough and flatten them between your palms. Add 1 tablespoon of cheese in the middle, and top with a handful more dough, gently pressing to seal the cheese inside and form a patty about ¼ inch thick. If you’re after those perfectly shaped arepas, place each arepa ball between 2 sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap and flatten them to ¼ inch with a heavy cast iron pan. Repeat until you’re out of dough and cheese, transferring prepared arepas to a large platter.
- Preheat your budare (special arepas pan), griddle or cast iron pan to high heat. Season with oil or butter. Place the arepas in the pan and cook about 5 minutes on each side, until you achieve golden-brown colour and a beautiful char in spots.
- To serve arepas, cut them in half and put your favourite toppings inside. Drizzle with Colombian pico de gallo and aji.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
358kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
30g
(10%)
Protein
13g
(26%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
25mg
(8%)
Sodium
242mg
(10%)
Potassium
468mg
(13%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
676IU
(14%)
Vitamin C
20mg
(22%)
Calcium
308mg
(31%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 358
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 358kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 30g | 10% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 25mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 242mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 468mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 676IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 20mg | 22% |
| Calcium | 308mg | 31% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.