To make an arepa, you need some corn flour, water, egg, salt and cheese. You mix all this together to make the dough, or ´masa.´ Once you have the masa, you take a small ball and form a disk shape. You can either boil, fry, grill, bake, or steam arepas to cook them! Once they´re cooked, you cut the arepa on one side to make a pocket and you can put a tasty filling inside. People fill arepas with whatever they want and they´re always delicious!
Arepas are usually sold on carts on the street, which is the most common way to sell food here. I see people selling arepas on almost every street corner! Usually, the carts have a stovetop on them where the seller cooks the arepa right in front of you. They make the stovetop hot by putting coal inside the belly of the cart! Families often cook arepas here as well. Families here take pride in their arepa recipes and many have been happy to share them with me as they teach me. I have had several arepa-making lessons since I´ve moved here. I have never said no because they´re so delicious!
