Reina Pepiada Venezuelan Arepas Chicken-Avocado Fried Arepas
- sofritomeetssouth
- Sep 5, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 3
By Sara Robinson July, 2024
Servings: | Prep Time: | Total Time: | ||
5/6 | 1 hr | 1 hr 30 min |
In this recipe, I will introduce you to the world of Arepas. An Arepa is a round-shaped white corn patty, grilled or fried. I grew up listening to my Spanish-born and raised mom to ponder about the popularity of arepas in Venezuela. I can't remember when she gave up and became an Arepa lover, but from that moment, many of our breakfasts and dinners revolved around Arepas. There is a reason for the area's popularity among Venezuelans. According to historical research, nearly nine hundred years ago, Native Venezuelan tribes used to take corn from the husk and manually ground it to create the dough to make arepas.
That was a very laborious process, simplified by the invention of Luis C. Mejias. In 1954, he revolutionized the way Venezuelans made arepas by introducing the pre-cooked package of what we know today as Harina Pan. Since then, making arepas hasn't taken a whole day; it only requires 1 cup of flour and 1 and 1/2 cups of water. Make medium-sized balls, flatten them, and put them on the grill or fry them. The two things I love the most about Arepas are how easy they are to make and the countless filling options. From cheese and ham to chicken, beef, seafood, beans, fried plantains, eggs, fish, you name it. Arepas are so versatile that they will never judge you for putting whatever you feel like inside them, not even jam.
This recipe is straightforward, and the Arepas are fried. It's perfect for dinner parties, special gatherings, and family dinners. Did I mention that arepas are gluten-free as well?
Enjoy this traditional recipe of Reina Pepiada Venezuelan Arepas chicken-avocado fried Arepas.
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Ingredients:
For the Arepas:
- 2 cups of corn flour (Harina PAN flour) https://amzn.to/47aZRRD-
-2 1/2 cups of lukewarm water
- A splash of olive oil
- A pinch of salt
- Cooking oil for frying
For the Reina Pepiada Filling (Chicken Avocado Filling):
In 1955, after Susan Dujim was crowned as the first Venezuelan Miss Universe, a popular Arepa restaurant created a special Arepa filling to honor the new queen. This filling was called Reina Pepiada, combining the words "Reina," meaning Queen, and "Pepiada," a term used to describe curvy girls back then. It was meant as a compliment, essentially translating to "Curvy Queen." This tradition has its roots in Venezuela's history of beauty contests and Miss Universe winners.
- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 2 ripe medium-sized avocados
- 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup of diced red onion
- Juice of 1 medium-sized lemon
- 3/4 cup of creamy mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions:
1.- Begin by cooking the chicken breasts in boiling water until fully cooked, then shred and set them aside.
2.- To prepare the arepa dough, combine the corn flour, lukewarm water, a splash of olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl, following the package instructions. Form the dough into 5 to 6 small to medium-sized balls.
3.- In a separate bowl, mix the shredded chicken with diced ripe avocados, freshly chopped cilantro, diced red onion, freshly squeezed lemon juice, creamy mayonnaise, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasonings as necessary, cover the bowl, and place it in the refrigerator while making the arepas.
Heat cooking oil in a wok or deep frying skillet over medium-high heat.
4.- Flatten each ball to form a patty, be careful not to break the edges, and then use your finger to create a small hole in the center. This will aid in cooking and create a crispy texture.
5.- Carefully place the arepas in the frying oil. Fry until golden brown, flipping them as needed to ensure even cooking.
6.- Once fried, remove the arepas from the oil and allow them to cool for about one minute.
7.- Using a knife, carefully cut each arepa in half, creating a pocket for the filling.
8.- Finally, fill each arepa with a generous portion of the prepared chicken avocado salad filling and serve.
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