Arepas are hand-sized corn discs. They're great for those times when you need a quick and filling meal. They can be prepared in many different ways and they are one of the staples of Venezuela cuisine.

Ingredients

• Corn meal (Use Venezuelan brand name "Harina P.A.N if you can find it in your international food section)
• Water
• Salt (or garlic salt)
• Garlic Powder (if you didn't already add garlic salt)

Directions

1. Get a big bowl and add some lukewarm water.
2. Add salt or garlic salt to the water.
3. Stir.
4. Apply corn meal evenly and knead with your hands until the mixture acquires a "play doh-ish" texture.
5. Grab a handful of the mixture and shape it into a sphere.
6. Squeeze the sphere into an even disc, making sure that it's thick enough to open slice it open horizontally once it's done
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all the mixture is gone.
8. Arepas can be either fried (making sure the oil covers them completely) or baked in an oven for 10-20 minutes at a temperature of 375 degrees.
9. Remove from oven/frying pan and slice them open horizontally to eat, fill them up with deli meat, butter, cheese, or anything else that comes to mind.

This recipe was submitted by Rico on August 22, 2005.