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Puerto Rican Arepas

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  • Prep 3 min
  • Total 60 min
  • Ingredients 7
  • Servings 8
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Puerto Rican arepas are different from their better-known South American counterparts, which are made with corn flour. In Puerto Rico, the Island of Enchantment, arepas are a kind of fried bread made with wheat flour. These arepas are perfect for a delicious Puerto Rican breakfast. You can make them sweet or savory, plain or stuffed. It's up to you. The basic arepa recipe calls for flour, butter, salt, and water. I, however, added some garlic powder to give it another flavor. You can combine this recipe with other ingredients like onions, peppers, and herbs, and serve them with beef, salted cod, or soup. You can also use the same dough and stuff the arepas to your liking. Additionally, you can use the basic recipe (without the garlic) and add sugar or coconut to make delicious sweet arepas. What do you feel like adding to these arepas?
Jeannette Quiñones Cantore
Updated Sep 20, 2016
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 pinch sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying

Directions

  •  
    1
    Combine flour, sugar, and garlic powder (optional).
  •  
    2
    Add the butter and knead with your hands until forming grainy dough.
  •  
    3
    Dissolve salt in water. Add the saltwater to the dough and mix until you get a consistency that is somewhat sticky but still comes off your fingers.
  •  
    4
    Transfer the dough to a glass bowl or dish, cover with saran wrap or a damp kitchen towel, and let rest for 30 minutes.
  •  
    5
    After 30 minutes, divide the dough into 8 small balls of equal size. Take one ball and roll it out on a clean, dry surface with a rolling pin until you get an arepa that's about 5 inches in diameter. Do the same with the remaining dough balls.
  •  
    6
    Heat the oil in a skillet, take one arepa, and carefully drop it in the oil. Fry for 45-50 seconds until the edges become golden. Turn it over carefully and fry for another 30-40 seconds. Repeat until you are done with all 8 arepas.
  •  
    7
    Serve them with beef, fish, roasted vegetables, or a bowl of soup.

Expert Tips

  • tip 1
    For sweet arepas, skip the garlic and add 4 tablespoons sugar. After frying, cover them in sugar and cinnamon.

Nutrition Information

No nutrition information available for this recipe

More About This Recipe

  • Puerto Rican arepas are different from their better-known South American counterparts, which are made with corn flour. In Puerto Rico, the Island of Enchantment, arepas are a kind of fried bread made with wheat flour. These arepas are perfect for a delicious Puerto Rican breakfast. You can make them sweet or savory, plain or stuffed. It's up to you. The basic arepa recipe calls for flour, butter, salt, and water. I, however, added some garlic powder to give it another flavor. You can combine this recipe with other ingredients like onions, peppers, and herbs, and serve them with beef, salted cod, or soup. You can also use the same dough and stuff the arepas to your liking. Additionally, you can use the basic recipe (without the garlic) and add sugar or coconut to make delicious sweet arepas. What do you feel like adding to these arepas?
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