87 minutes•Medium•Serves 2

Reina Pepiada Arepas: A Taste of Caracas

Name: Reina Pepiada Arepas: A Taste of Caracas
Prep time: 65 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 87 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Venezuelan
Ingredients: 1 cup Masarepa (pre-cooked corn flour); 1 cup Warm water; 1/2 teaspoon Salt; 1 ripe Avocado; 1 cup shredded Cooked chicken breast; 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise; 1/4 cup finely chopped Red onion; 2 tablespoons chopped Cilantro; 1 tablespoon Lime juice; to taste Salt; to taste Black pepper; 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil

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By @chef1

These arepas are filled with a creamy and flavorful avocado chicken salad, known as Reina Pepiada, a classic Venezuelan combination. Perfect for a quick lunch or satisfying dinner.

Recipe Rating

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Ingredients

●1 cup Masarepa (pre-cooked corn flour)
●1 cup Warm water
●1/2 teaspoon Salt
●1 ripe Avocado
●1 cup shredded Cooked chicken breast
●2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
●1/4 cup finely chopped Red onion
●2 tablespoons chopped Cilantro
●1 tablespoon Lime juice
●to taste Salt
●to taste Black pepper
●2 tablespoons Vegetable oil

Instructions

1
In a bowl, mix the masarepa, warm water, and salt until a soft dough forms. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
2
Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball, then flatten into a disc about 1/2 inch thick.
3
Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the arepas for about 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Alternatively, you can use an air fryer at 375F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway.
4
While the arepas are cooking, prepare the Reina Pepiada filling. In a bowl, mash the avocado. Add the shredded chicken, mayonnaise, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5
Once the arepas are cooked, let them cool slightly. Slice them open horizontally, like a pita pocket.
6
Fill each arepa with the Reina Pepiada filling. Serve immediately.

Recipe details

Cuisine: Venezuelan
Category: Main course
Preparation: 65 minutes
Cooking: 15 minutes

Estimated total: 87 minutes. Planning estimate: stated duration ranges use their midpoint; standard preparation, heating and handling allowances are included. Overlapping tasks are counted once. Resting/chilling is included in total time.

How these estimates were calculated

General setup: 5 min planning allowance (setup)
Prepare red onion and cilantro: 10 min planning allowance (vegetable_prep)
Mash avocado: 5 min planning allowance (simple_prep)
Mix masarepa dough: 3 min planning allowance (mix)
Shape arepa dough: 15 min planning allowance (shape)
Preheat skillet: 3 min planning allowance (pan_preheat)
Mix Reina Pepiada filling: 3 min planning allowance (mix)
Briefly cool arepas: 5 min planning allowance (brief_cool)
Slice arepas open: 2 min planning allowance (transfer)
Fill arepas: 5 min planning allowance (assemble)
Serve immediately: 2 min planning allowance (garnish)
Shape 2 portions into discs
Cook 2 arepas on first side
Cook 2 arepas on second side
Combine avocado, chicken, mayonnaise, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper

Masarepa (pre-cooked corn flour): USDA FoodData Central Branded P.A.N. label, published 2021-10-28; formulation and label rounding may vary (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/2079822/nutrients)
Masarepa (pre-cooked corn flour): USDA tbsp portion weight
P.A.N. precooked white corn-meal label reference, 30 g per 3 tbsp; not nixtamalized masa.
Warm water: USDA cup portion weight
Salt: USDA tsp portion weight
Table salt; unknown quantity means sodium is omitted, not guessed.
Avocado: USDA avocado, NS as to Florida or California portion weight
Used generic avocado reference for 'ripe avocado'.
Cooked chicken breast: USDA cup, chopped or diced portion weight
Shredded chicken breast matched to chopped/diced cooked chicken breast.
Mayonnaise: USDA tbsp portion weight
Red onion: USDA cup, chopped portion weight
Finely chopped red onion matched to chopped raw onion.
Cilantro: USDA cup portion weight
Lime juice: USDA cup portion weight
Unweighed Salt: only documented zero nutrients included
Black pepper: USDA tsp, ground portion weight
Black pepper: Seasoning allowance: 1/4 tsp per 4 servings
USDA black pepper; documented seasoning allowance applies only to to-taste/pinch amounts.
Vegetable oil: USDA tablespoon portion weight
Used generic refined soybean vegetable oil.

Masarepa (pre-cooked corn flour): 160 g · Food reference
Warm water: 237 g · USDA reference 174158
Salt: 3 g · USDA reference 173468
Avocado: 201 g · USDA reference 171705
Cooked chicken breast: 140 g · USDA reference 171477
Mayonnaise: 27.6 g · USDA reference 171009
Red onion: 40 g · USDA reference 170000
Cilantro: 2 g · USDA reference 169997
Lime juice: 15.13 g · USDA reference 168156
Salt: documented zero nutrients only · USDA reference 173468
Black pepper: 0.57 g · USDA reference 170931
Vegetable oil: 27.2 g · USDA reference 172370

arepas · chicken · avocado · Reina Pepiada

Estimated nutrition per serving

795 calories · 29.5 g protein · 75.4 g carbohydrate · 42.6 g fat · 12.6 g fiber

Source and basis: USDA FoodData Central and reviewed product references; ingredient-based calculation per serving. Documented USDA or manufacturer portion weights; all listed ingredient mass included before cooking losses. Nutrients with incomplete inputs omitted. Full ingredient matches and assumptions below.

Featured in: Around the World in 80 Meals

Journey to Caracas with Reina Pepiada Arepas! Learn about this iconic Venezuelan dish, its history, and how to make it at home. A must-try for any food lover!

Read the Story

Recipe Context

This recipe was created with the following context in mind:

Friday

afternoon snack

winter

Requested: 8 min

1 person