Portuguesa-Style Arepas with Spiced Beef and Avocado

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-22 · Updated 2026-07-22

Cornmeal arepas filled with seasoned ground beef and creamy avocado, inspired by the regional flavors of Portuguesa, Venezuela. This latin american-inspired street food ready in about 35 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 350 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.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pre-cooked cornmeal (masarepa)
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, finely diced onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• to taste salt
• 1 large, sliced ripe avocado
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp butter

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups pre-cooked cornmeal, 1 tsp salt, and 2 cups warm water. Mix with your hands until a soft dough forms, then let rest for 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 6 equal balls and flatten each into 1/2-inch thick discs about 4 inches in diameter.
3. Step 3: Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 3 discs and cook for 5 minutes per side until a golden crust forms and arepas puff slightly, then repeat with remaining discs.
4. Step 4: While the arepas cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 medium diced onion and sauté for 3 minutes until translucent.
5. Step 5: Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, and salt to taste. Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
6. Step 6: Add 1 lb ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
7. Step 7: Toss sliced avocado with 1 tbsp lime juice to prevent browning.
8. Step 8: Slice each arepa horizontally about halfway through. Fill with generous spoonfuls of the spiced beef mixture and sliced avocado. Serve warm.