Grilled Cheese Arepas with Caramelized Plantains

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Savory cornmeal cakes filled with melted cheese, served with sweet plantains caramelized to perfection for a classic Venezuelan street food experience. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs white cornmeal, salt, warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Latin American cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup (120g) white cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup (240ml) warm water to form a cohesive dough; let rest for 10 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 6 equal portions and shape each into a 1-inch thick round. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and cook the arepas for 5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
  3. Step 3: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 2 ripe plantains, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds, and cook for 3 minutes per side until golden, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar and a pinch of salt, and cook for 1 more minute until caramelized.

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