I lived in Miami for a few years while attending college at Johnson and Wales University. It was my first time living in a large city and my first real exposure to so many different types of cuisine. I was a really picky eater back then, so it took me a while to branch out, but I quickly fell in love with Latin food. I had grown up eating Mexican food, which was familiar, but this was different. One of my favorites quickly became arepas.

I would crave arepas and made sure to eat them anytime I went back to visit Miami. There were a couple of places in Vegas that had them, but I would always forget to go. ADHD does that to me a lot. And honestly, they just taste better in Miami.

What Are Arepas?

Arepas are a type of corn cake popular in Colombia and Venezuela. They are made from corn flour, water, and salt, then cooked in a pan until golden brown. Once cooked, they can be split open and stuffed with fillings like cheese, chicken, avocado, pork, or eggs. They are naturally gluten-free and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Learning to Make Arepas from a Colombian Friend

My friend Andrea, who is Colombian, and I had been talking about arepas and all the Latin food we missed now that we live in Tavira. I asked her if she would teach me how to make them, and honestly, I do not know why I never thought to learn before. I’ve always loved cooking, and I’m a good cook. I even studied baking and pastry in school. I have also had Colombian friends, and even an ex-boyfriend who was Colombian, and somehow it never crossed my mind to learn.

Andrea was completely on board and excited to teach me.

We made an evening of it with friends and ended up making a ton of delicious arepas. Andrea and her husband prepared carnitas (pork) and reina pepiada, which is chicken mixed with avocado, for the fillings. They were surprisingly easy to make, and I could not believe I had never learned sooner. I could have been eating arepas for the last 15 years and saved myself a lot of trips to Miami. I have terrible luck when I go there, so maybe this is for the best.

Andrea and I

Ingredients Needed to Make Arepas

  • Corn flour (masarepa, such as PAN)
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Butter (optional)
  • Fillings- carnitas, shredded chicken, shredded beef, cheese, avocado, etc.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Arepas

Use a ratio of 1 cup corn flour to 1 ¼ cups water, plus a little salt to taste. Mix everything together by hand until a soft dough forms, then shape it into patties. Cook them in a pan for about 5 to 7 minutes on one side, until lightly browned, then flip. Spread a little butter on top and sprinkle with salt. Once the other side is lightly browned, flip again, add more butter and salt, and cook until both sides are golden.

Once they have cooled slightly, you can cut them partway open to add fillings. You can stuff them with just about anything, or leave them whole and add toppings instead. One of my favorite ways to eat them is with a fried egg and melted cheese on top. So good!!!

Finished Product!

Andrea gave me an “A” by the way. So now I will be making them often! 

Arepas Are Naturally Gluten Free

One of the best things about arepas is that they are naturally gluten-free. They are made from corn flour rather than wheat flour, which makes them a great option for anyone with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Just make sure to use masarepa, such as PAN, and check that it is labeled gluten-free to avoid any cross-contamination. Since arepas are so versatile, they are an easy and delicious gluten-free alternative to bread and can be filled or topped with almost anything.

Final Thoughts on Learning to Make Arepas

I cannot believe I waited so long to learn how to make arepas. They are incredibly easy, versatile, and honestly better than I remembered. It was also really special getting to learn from Andrea and bring a taste of Colombia into our home here in Tavira.

Now that I know how simple they are, I will definitely be making them more often. And the best part is I do not have to fly to Miami every time I get a craving.

And, by-the-way, Andrea gave me an “A”!

Follow us

Check out Andreas’ blog at Colombianabroad.com, and check out my Instagram @vegas.to.portugal for my reel with more pics of the arepa experience. 💙