Pan-Fried Cornmeal Arepas with Queso Blanco Filling

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 stuffed with creamy queso blanco cheese, perfect for a satisfying snack or light meal. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe, 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 210 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 210 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of pre-cooked cornmeal (masarepa) with 1 tsp salt. Gradually pour in 2 cups of warm water while mixing with your hands until a soft, moist dough forms; let it rest for 5 minutes to hydrate.
  2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 6 equal portions and shape each into a flat disc about 1/2-inch thick and 4 inches in diameter.
  3. Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the arepas and cook for 5 minutes on each side until they develop a golden crust and puff slightly.
  4. Step 4: Transfer the arepas to a plate and let cool for 3 minutes, then carefully slice each arepa horizontally without cutting all the way through to create a pocket.
  5. Step 5: Stuff each arepa generously with about 2 tbsp crumbled queso blanco cheese. Return to the skillet and cook for another 2 minutes per side over low heat until the cheese softens and melts slightly inside.

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