Diana’s Arepas Rellenas: Flat Corn Bread Tapas

ArepasareasimplestaplefoodformostofLatinAmerica.TheMexicanrecipeissimilartotortillawraps,andmuchthinner.ElSalvador,Honduras,Colombia,Venezuelaandmanyothercountrieshavethickerversions,calleddifferentnamestoo.It’seasytomaketheselovelygluten-freearepas!Makes8arepas.

Ingredients 1¼cupslukewarmwater

1cupcornflour(P.A.N.brandisrecommendedasthetrickisinthewaytheflourhasbeenground,andnotalltypeswillwork.ItcanbefoundattheCasaIbericashopinJohnstonSt,Fitzroy,usuallysoldina1kgpack,eitherwhitecornoryellow.Myfavouriteistheyellow,buttheflavourdoesn'tchangemuch.)

30gmeltedbutter,oryourpreferredoil

salttotaste

tastycheese,optionalbutdelicious

Method Add1¼cupsoflukewarmwatertoamixingbowl.

Add1cupofcornflourtobowl.Letitrestforatleast1minute.

Addmeltedbutter,salt,andoptionalcheese.

Withcleanhandstakethedoughandmixitverywell.Textureshouldbesoftanddoughlike.

Startmaking8littleballsofdough,flattenthemtoabout9cmandfixtheedges,sotheydon’thavecracks.Don’tmakethediscstoothick,butalsonottoothin,astheycouldburneasily.

Turnthegrillontoalowsetting.Placeflattenedballsonthegrill,turninguntiltheyaregolden.Donotovercook.

Arepasaredeliciousontheirown,ortoppedwithrefriedbeans,guacamole,bocconciniandbasil,pulledpork,grilledchicken-thepossibilitiesareendless!

Photofeaturesgrilledchicken,mozarellaandrocketareparellena:)