Spicy Fried Arepas
- Ready In:
- 53mins
- Ingredients:
- 22
- Yields:
-
20-24 arepas
- Serves:
- 5-10
ingredients
- 4 cups yellow cornmeal (refined)
- 1⁄4 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 ounce margarine
- 1 ounce shortening
- 4 -5 cups water (use enough water to make a soft pliable dough)
-
Filling
- 2 lbs ground beef (or a mixture of beef and pork)
-
Trinidad house seasoning (use 4 tablespoons)
- 5 garlic cloves
- 3 sprigs thyme
- 1 medium onion
- 20 leaves culantro
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 2 chives
- 2 pimientos
-
Additional Seasoning Ingredients
- 1 hot pepper
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt and pepper, if needed
- 1 1⁄2 cups water, to cook
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
directions
- Place water in a medium pot over moderate heat, add meat, seasonings and hot pepper, stirring to distribute seasonings.
- Allow to cook for 10 mins then add soy sauce, black pepper , sugar and salt if needed. Add more water if necessary for meat to cook thoroughly.
- Cook until water is absorbed completely. Set aside to cool until dough is ready.
-
Dough:
- In a medium bowl, sift and combine corm meal, flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Add sugar followed by the margarine and shortening. Using a fork or pastry blender combine the fat in to the flour mixture until it looks like bread crumbs.
- Add water half cups at a time and knead into a soft dough. (water amount may vary for different types of cornmeal).
- Divide dough into balls about the size of an egg. On a non-stick surface or on a greased plastic bag, press out a ball into a round disc about 1/8 inch thick. (a tortilla press is ideal for making the discs).
- On one half, fill with one tablespoon of filling, wet the edges of the other side and fold over and seal off by pressing edges together.
- Set aside until ready to fry.
- Heat 2 cups veg oil and fry Arepas until golden brown, turning after the first 4 mins or so.
- Remove the Arepas and drain on brown paper bag sheets or bounty towels. Remove thearepas from the first set of paper and wrap in a second set of paper towels, keep covered in a container if not using immediately.
- Note: the uncooked Arepas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and fried immediately when needed without thawing.
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