The Venezuelan Arepas

The arepa corn flour bread is the excellence of Venezuela. Together with the hallaca make two main dishes from Venezuela. Born as a way to worship the sun and moon. The same applies to the utensil round in which they cook these foods: the griddle. In the sixteenth century by writing "The Road to El Dorado? Venezuelan writer Arturo Uslar Pietri, who was in command of the tyrant Aguirre called "arepa eaters? the first mestizos of the territory. In 1869 the Spanish language dictionary defined the arepa as a "dumpling made of corn flour with pork inside, they sell the black in the corners of Cartagena de Indias? In a later edition, made in Paris in 1.878, it adds: ".. and lunch general of all people?. The Dictionary of the Spanish Royal Academy of 1914 reads: ".. the (Cumanagoto eRep, corn), circular bread that is used in America, consisting of boiled corn, crushed and sieved, eggs and butter, and cooked the oven?. Tulio Febres Cordero historian who in 1917 conducted a review of definitions, found in various dictionaries, wrote of this last definition that "this is not the definition of our popular arepa, because corn is ground and reduced to ground between stones or in special machines, and will never hovering or made flour and add egg and butter of, would laugh at our areperas ..?.

Although arepas today are very similar to this definition, it is now prepared with precooked flour industrialized. Generally, the arepa is made with precooked corn flour, white or yellow, mixed with water and a touch of salt, knead well until the dough is firm, smooth, smooth, no lumps, which are small balls which are then crushed into shape for wheel or disk. An alternate clapping hands together, the arepa is shaped, always in a circular motion until the desired thickness, and finally passed through the edge fingers lightly dampened with water. Cooked roasted, baked, fried and boiled.

In it there are many versions as there are regions in the country. Hulled corn arepa: Corn is placed in a wooden pestle to crush and remove the shell. Arepa precooked corn flour, is made with precooked corn flour. Corn Arepas peeled: Better known in the Venezuelan coast as "Arepa Pelada" or "Arepa Scraped" East, this kind of peeling corn arepa comes, which is one that retains that softens skin and boiling it with lime. When grinding, keep the nutritive components of the lumen and shell. Its flavor is very similar to tortillas. Arepita sweet or anise, anise and is made with brown sugar. Are thin and are placed in hot oil until puffed. Arepa coconut, is a native of Zulia state. Its shell is hard and is very soft inside. Cooking grill and griddle is on or iron. The dough is coconut and brown sugar. Chicharron arepas: Take crushed pork rinds mixed with the dough. Cheese arepa: with grated cheese incorporated into the dough. Arepa dressed: When you add eggs, brown sugar, cheese, and baking powder Tumbarranchos: These are typical of Zulia State, made the previous day, stuffed with mortadella, is dipped in egg batter and fry in hot oil.

Toast carotene: These are indigenous to the city of Carora, Lara State, also made the previous day, are filled with cheese slices fried, dipped in egg batter and fried in oil. Arepa fried and fried little hole: As the name implies, are fried in abundant oil. Venezuelan Arepas offer a versatility that allows it to accompany almost any food or become the main course when you have a delicious filling. Do not understand how it has not spread their consumption to Fast Food chains. Some classics like reinapepiada fillings - chicken stuffing stuffed with mayonnaise and avocado - domino - black beans (beans) with grated cheese - shredded beef with cheddar cheese, chicken, quail eggs in pink sauce, ham and cheese and tomato , avocado and cheese guayanes (our favorite) and serving in the market with chipichipi Margaret Pepitone. Speaking of arepas, recipe of the week is chicharron arepas T-shirt - my friend - and when go to Venezuela, I'm not the hair, are pa 'scrumptious. Write to you soon friends juliopena@dalilasgourmet.com or contact us at our website: www.dalilasgourmet.com

...