Discover AREPAS traditional specialties from Colombia and Venezuela. They are thick slabs of white or yellow corn, often garnished. In general, they are made of corn paste, kneaded by hand.But the easiest way is to buy pre-cooked corn flour, found in Latin American grocery stores in France , Quebec City and United States (Doña Arepa, or Pan).

You can prepare arepas for any occasion: brunch, lunch, starter, main course, or as an accompaniment ...

This recipe is 💯% gluten free, and you can add in the dough chia seeds or linseed.

Ingredients for 6

• 2 cups of corn flour 🌽
• 2 and a half cups of hot water
• 1 cup of cheese (optional explanation below)
• Pink salt of the Himalayas

Ingredients for shrimps garnish

• 800 gr of shrimp 🍤
• 1 lime juice (preferably)
• 1 fillet of olive oil or 1 spoon of coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon of paprika according to your taste
• Himalayan pink salt and black pepper

For avocado cream you can refer to the recipe for guasacaca by clicking on this link. Prepare this avocado cream before arepas and shrimps.

Arepas preparation

• In a large enough bowl, mix the corn flour, with the salt, (cheese) and the water, you must obtain a paste that is easy to work and homogeneous. If the texture is not good, do not hesitate to add flour or water.
• To make the arepas, you must form a ball of dough the size of a clementine, and flatten it between two squares of baking paper by means of a plate. They should be one-centimeter thick.
• In a non-stick skillet over medium heat and without fat, cook the arepas about 3 minutes on each side. They should get golden brown, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
• With a knife cut the arepas long and keep them warm at a minimum temperature.
• During the cooking time of the arepas you can cook shrimp.
• For cheese-flavored arepas, simply add shredded mozzarella or feta cheese.

Shrimps preparation

• Marinate the shrimp in lemon and paprika for about 10 minutes.
• Take them out and bring them back on high heat in a stove, with a spoonful of olive oil (or coconut oil).
• Salt, pepper and adjust the paprika to your taste.
• Cook for about 8 minutes, turning each side. Do not over cook your shrimps.

Montage

• Mix the still hot shrimp with some of the avocado cream.
• Open the arepas in half to form a kind of sandwich. First garnish the bottom with shrimp and guasacaca.
• Another option: leave the arepas as they are and place the garnish on top.
• Decorate with some leaves of coriander or parsley.
• Enjoy hot as soon as your arepas are ready.