Pan-Fried Arepas with Black Bean and Avocado Filling

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

Golden pan-fried Venezuelan arepas stuffed with a creamy black bean and avocado mixture for a satisfying Latin American meal. This Latin American-inspired recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 27 minutes, turns precooked cornmeal (P.A.N.), warm water, salt into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 6, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. 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.

Ingredients

• 2 cups precooked cornmeal (P.A.N.)
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup black beans (canned, drained and rinsed)
• 1 medium ripe avocado
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro leaves
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• to taste salt

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups precooked cornmeal, 1/2 tsp salt, and gradually add 1 1/4 cups warm water, mixing with your hands until a soft dough forms; let rest for 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 6 equal balls and flatten each into a 1/2-inch thick disc about 4 inches wide.
3. Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the discs and cook for 5 minutes on each side until a golden crust forms and the arepas sound hollow when tapped.
4. Step 4: While the arepas cook, mash 1 medium ripe avocado with 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 cup black beans, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, and salt to taste until creamy but chunky.
5. Step 5: Slice each cooked arepa open like a pita pocket and fill generously with the black bean and avocado mixture. Serve warm.