Foodie Fridays: Arepas for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Oh yeah, you read right. I am dedicating this week’s Foodie Friday to the humble arepa and my favourite ways to eat this corn-flour tortilla-like Colombian food staple.

Sure, I have attempted to accept that not everyone loves the arepa as much as I do, but here are some Colombian recipes (with a twist) that are sure to change your mind, if you haven’t yet fallen in love with this Colombian corn snack.

BREAKFAST

{ Arepa High Stack }

Ingredients:

• 2 regular corn arepas
• 1 avocado
• 2 eggs
• A bunch of coriander
• Campesino cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Grill your arepas on a high heat until their golden brown and crispy.
2. Fry two eggs in a pan, fry one at a time in a small pan so they keep a round shape.
3. Cut your avocado in half and scoop out into a bowl, sprinkle with a little salt.
4. Mix the avocado well, until you have a chunky but mashed consistency.
5. Spread the avocado mash over the arepa, followed by the campesino cheese, a slice will do. Then then the egg on top.
6. Sprinkle with chopped coriander and add salt and pepper to taste.

LUNCH

{ Arepizzas }

Ingredients:

• 2 regular corn arepas
• Mozzarella cheese
• Hogao
• 2 button mushrooms
• Slices of cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Make your hogao, see how here.
2. Slice your button mushrooms and add to your hogao mix and set aside.
3. Grill your arepas until they are crispy and golden.
4. Add a slice of cheddar cheese onto each arepa, top with hogao and then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and serve.
5. Get creative with your toppings, you can put whatever you like on these mini pizzas.

DINNER

{ Sweet Sushi }

In Colombia it’s not uncommon to have something sweet for dinner, like bread with hot chocolate. But here’s my take on the sweet Colombian dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 arepa de choclo (the sweet arepa variety)
• 1 slice of queso tajado or your fave sliced cheese
• Cream cheese
• Small tub of arequipe

Directions:

1. Put a pan on medium to high heat and add the arepa to the pan.
2. Flip it over once it’s starting to cook.
3. Flip over again and then add the slice of cheese to the arepa.
4. Once the cheese starts to melt, removed the arepa from the pan, spread over some cream cheese and slowly begin to roll it.
5. Chop off each of the ends – you know, so it looks nice and even – then cut into three.
6. Place on your place and add a bit of arequipe onto each.
7. Chopsticks not required.

So, for those who haven’t fallen in love with the arepa yet, I hope you’re slowly being swayed.