Arepas de queso (Colombian cheese-filled corn arepas)
Golden griddled corn cakes with a melting cheese centre, spread with butter while hot. Simple to make and very hard to stop eating.
- Time40 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.00 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 483kcal
- 46.8gcarbs
- 0.9gof which sugars
- 25.1gfat
- 15.6gsaturates
- 17.9gprotein
- 1.9gfibre
- 2.4gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Stir the cornmeal and salt together in a bowl. Pour in the warm water, mix, then knead for 2 minutes into a soft, smooth dough that is not sticky. Add a spoonful of cornmeal if too wet or water if it cracks. Cover and rest for 5 minutes.
5 min - 2
Divide into 8 balls. Press a hollow into each with your thumb, put 25 g of the mozzarella inside and pinch the dough closed around it, rolling it smooth again.
- 3
Flatten each ball between your palms into a disc about 8 cm wide and 1.5 cm thick. Smooth any cracks around the edges with a wet finger so the cheese cannot escape.
- 4
Heat a non-stick frying pan or griddle over a medium-low heat. Cook the arepas for 6 to 7 minutes on each side, until golden with brown flecks and firm when pressed. Any cheese that leaks out will turn into a crisp lacy edge, which is a treat.
14 min - 5
Split open or leave whole, spread with butter while hot and serve straight away.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
