Ingredients for Arepas

• cups P.A.N. (pre-cooked white corn meal)
• 2 1/2 cups of warm tap water
• 1 tsp. of salt
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• A nonstick grilling pan

Ingredients for filling

• 1 can of black beans
• 1 tsp. cumin Powder
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. virgen olive oil
• 2 plantains
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
• 2 avocados
• 2 tsp. lime juice
• 1/3 cup chopped red onions

Prepare and Cook Arepas

1. Mix water, salt and oil in a large bowl. 
2. Gradually add the cornmeal and mix with your hands until completely amalgamated. The dough should be firm enough to not stick to your hands and soft enough to not crack. If not, add cornmeal or water.
3. Let dough sit for 5 minutes.
4. Wet your hands and form a big (palm size) ball with your hands. Press them between your hands to form eight patties about 1/2 inch thick.
5. Heat some oil on the grilling pan and cook arepas, four at a time, on medium low heat for 7 minutes each side. You are looking for a crispy layer on the outside (and brownish grilling strips).

Prepare Filling for Arepas

1. Chop onion and slice plantains. Set onion aside.
2. Heat the oil in a skillet and add plantain slices and cook over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes each side until golden brown. Add plantains to a bowl and add salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Add cumin and garlic powder to beans and microwave for two minutes.
4. Slice avocado and cut lime in half.
5. Cut arepa with serrated knife to form a pocket.

6. Fill arepas with plantains, onion, beans (drained), avocado and a squeeze of lime

The filling can be added to a bowl with arepa on the side for a bigger portion.

Adapted from Iosume. “Vegan Arepas.” Simple Vegan Blog. 19 May. , 2019, https://simpleveganblog.com/vegan-arepas/