Pan-Fried Arepas with Black Beans and Queso Blanco

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.

Golden pan-fried Venezuelan arepas filled with seasoned black beans and crumbly queso blanco, perfect for a hearty Latin American meal. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs pre-cooked cornmeal (masarepa), warm water, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, 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: 15 min Cook: 15 min Serves 6 Latin American cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups pre-cooked cornmeal, 1 tsp salt, and slowly add 1 1/4 cups warm water, stirring with your hand until a soft dough forms; let it rest for 5 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 6 equal portions and shape each into a flat round patty about 1/2-inch thick.
  3. Step 3: Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the arepas and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
  4. Step 4: While the arepas cook, in a small bowl, mix 1 cup cooked black beans with 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro.
  5. Step 5: When arepas are cooked, slice each horizontally (not all the way through) to create a pocket. Stuff each with the seasoned black beans and 1/2 cup crumbled queso blanco, serving warm.

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