Arepas-From Bad To Worse

emilyh says on Nov 13, 2004, 17:33:

Mmm...arepa I found them very interesting, and know I quite miss them. However, mostly we used to just buy the pre-packaged ones from the supermarket and cook them with ham and cheese on top.

The nicest ones that I had though were from a town (which the name escapes me now) on the way back from Villa de Leyva. My boyfriend's sister told us we had to stop there and look for a shop that sold Arepa's as made by an old lady....in that town there were about 5 signs for homemade arepa's and sure enough we went in and found an old lady inside making them by hand. We took them home and cooked them and they were very yummy, but gee...heavy! They were also very sweet compared to the others.

Maybe it's something that you have to try from a lot of different sources to find the arepa that suits you. I would definately like to try the Pupusas too...yum!

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sus says on Nov 13, 2004, 17:49:

man, you guys obvioulsly haven't had home made ones, popusas don't come near a good arepa, I know.

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kernow62 says on Nov 13, 2004, 17:58:

I like mine burnt a bit with lots of butter. Are there regional varieties? Are we talking about the same rather bland white cornmeal arepas? Or are we talking about arepa de chocolo which is made much sweeter?

I would like to hear about regional variations.

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emilyh says on Nov 13, 2004, 18:40:

Regional varieties I'm not sure, I just noticed that the ones which were made in that town were sweeter, but they looked the same as other ones I've had, so I'm not sure if they were arepa de chocolo. Although I wasn't talking about the small white ones, I was talking about the larger 'meal-size' arepa's that were usually orange. I also liked them with just a little bit of butter and salt...damn, it's lunchtime here..now I want arepa!

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caiman says on Nov 13, 2004, 18:54:

Arepa variety As far as I know there are different kinds of arepa whithin Colombia. I know of and have tried:
Arepa antioquena from the Medellin/Antioquia region
Arepa de choclo (Bogota??)
Arepa de huevo (Atlantic coast)http://www.cocinavino.com/ensusalsa/recetas/arepahuevo.html
Arepa de huevo con carne ( Atlantic coast
Arepa de viento (Atlantic coast)

These last three are think and could be sweet or salty. They are deep fried. For more AREPAS... there are a lot of sites on this subjet in both English and Spanish

caiman

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nomad unpopular says on Nov 13, 2004, 19:05:

Arepa dulce con queso.. .......es la mejor.

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kernow62 says on Nov 13, 2004, 19:07:

Arepa antioquena what are these like? The lady who used to make arepas for me in Orlando was from Medellin. The arepas she made were white and quite large but fairly thin, because she cooked them on a wire thingy above a flame they tended to get just a little burned. They were yummy, but she has moved & I have lost track of her.

We can buy arepa de chocolo in the supermarkets here in Orlando, but I can't find pre-made regular arepas. I have tried making them and I must have the consistency incorrect because they drip through the wire thingy and end up caked to the top of my stove. My wife is not amused.

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kernow62 says on Nov 13, 2004, 19:07:

Arepa antioquena what are these like? The lady who used to make arepas for me in Orlando was from Medellin. The arepas she made were white and quite large but fairly thin, because she cooked them on a wire thingy above a flame they tended to get just a little burned. They were yummy, but she has moved & I have lost track of her.

We can buy arepa de chocolo in the supermarkets here in Orlando, but I can't find pre-made regular arepas. I have tried making them and I must have the consistency incorrect because they drip through the wire thingy and end up caked to the top of my stove. My wife is not amused.

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Miguel says on Nov 13, 2004, 23:13:

Tienes razon It is your consistency...make 'em about 1/4 thick, after rolling them on wax paper. This info is credited to La Reina Desi.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 14, 2004, 04:44:

miguel.. that was for making empanadas. I am totally hopeless with arepas. Don't even like them that much.
Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Gator says on Nov 14, 2004, 08:27:

The Best I have Had were bought at the little asaderos along the highway outside of Yumbo. Both arepa de chocolo and "regular" are sold. Cooked in mud and stone ovens using a wood fire.

I guess they are an acquired taste but every morning they are on the table. The wife uses a hot iron skillet. She wacks them with a wood spoon to tell if they are done-how she knows I have no idea. A little salt and butter on top then split open and add some white cheese inside-enjoy

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 14, 2004, 08:28:

Lemons and lemonade I have followed the package instructions and various recipes to the letter and they always resemble hockey pucks. So with the remaining dough mixture I throw in some milk and an egg and viola! -- corn pancakes.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 14, 2004, 08:38:

easy when whacked by a wooden spoon they make a hollow sound if they're done.
Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Gator says on Nov 14, 2004, 20:15:

I Know That but I guess itr takes a Colombian ear to really tell.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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william_andrew_channell says on Nov 16, 2004, 10:18:

The best ones are the ones that you buy on the street corner and the dudes who cook them on their bicycle grill. The ones stuffed with chicken, beef or sausage with cheese and covered with butter and LOTS of salt. Mmm, Think I'll go get one right now...

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afq says on Nov 16, 2004, 11:33:

Recipe Check this link for Arepa Recipe

http://www.recipelink.com/mf/3/8586

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 17, 2004, 12:03:

corn pancakes tinto's voilá corn pancakes are endearingly similar to the arepa payanesa (Popayan arepa). They're made with milk, egg and grated cheese. Yummier than the regular plain white corn griddle cakes that don't taste much of anything...
Cheers,
Desi
(lost in the world of recipes, tropical fruits and the oncoming blizzard that'll hit my area tonight...and I haven't changed the tires yet...)

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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Colombian Austrian from NY says on Dec 16, 2004, 13:34:

Man I've been eating them for as long as I can remember. Living in NY my mom made them all the time. They come with all kinds of stuffing’s to just plane thin to thick large to small. Try them with a fried egg in the middle. I guess making them is just second nature to me I’ve never had a problem. Now it’s even better since we can get all kinds on Colombian foods here 30 years ago it was a real pain.

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