Spicy Fried Arepas

Total Time: 53 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups yellow cornmeal (refined)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 ounce margarine
• 1 ounce shortening
• 4 -5 cups water (use enough water to make a soft pliable dough)
• 2 lbs ground beef (or a mixture of beef and lamb)
• 5 garlic cloves
• 3 sprigs thyme
• 1 medium onion
• 20 leaves culantro
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
• 2 chives
• 2 pimientos
• 1 hot pepper
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• salt and pepper, if needed
• 1 1/2 cups water, to cook
• 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)

Recipe

• 1 place water in a medium pot over moderate heat, add meat, seasonings and hot pepper, stirring to distribute seasonings.
• 2 allow to cook for 10 mins then add soy sauce, black pepper , sugar and salt if needed. add more water if necessary for meat to cook thoroughly.
• 3 cook until water is absorbed completely. set aside to cool until dough is ready.
• 4 dough:.
• 5 in a medium bowl, sift and combine corm meal, flour, salt, and baking powder.
• 6 add sugar followed by the margarine and shortening. using a fork or pastry blender combine the fat in to the flour mixture until it looks like bread crumbs.
• 7 add water half cups at a time and knead into a soft dough. (water amount may vary for different types of cornmeal).
• 8 divide dough into balls about the size of an egg. on a non-stick surface or on a greased plastic bag, press out a ball into a round disc about 1/8 inch thick. (a tortilla press is ideal for making the discs).
• 9 on one half, fill with one tablespoon of filling, wet the edges of the other side and fold over and seal off by pressing edges together.
• 10 set aside until ready to fry.
• 11 heat 2 cups veg oil and fry arepas until golden brown, turning after the first 4 mins or so.
• 12 remove the arepas and drain on brown paper bag sheets or bounty towels. remove thearepas from the first set of paper and wrap in a second set of paper towels, keep covered in a container if not using immediately.
• 13 note: the uncooked arepas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and fried immediately when needed without thawing.