Cheesy Vegan Arepas (Vegan, Wheat & Gluten Free)

In my search for wheat free bread products a couple of years ago, I stumbled upon Masa Harina. 
I was originally hunting for recipes for cornbread, having never tried it and thinking it could be a useful staple to replace the wheat I'm no longer able to eat.

Masa Harina is dried corn dough, often called corn flour, but not to be mistaken for the cornflour we use for thickening sauces here in the UK!

I've also had a go at making corn tortillas with Masa Harina and they are really stunning.  I'm also working on sweet and savoury cornbread receipes for you all that I'll share soon.

All in all, Masa harina is now one of my favourite non-wheat flours to work with.

Arepas are small fried corn cakes that are traditionally eaten in South America. They are often sliced in half and filled. I've tried a few different fillings, including tomato & mustard, vegan sausage and vegan cheese and they make a pretty good wheat free replacement for a muffin or savoury bun.

This is a cheesy twist on the original recipe but without any dairy.




Best eaten freshly cooked, Arepas do store well and can be eaten the next day. I suggest reheating in the toaster before eating.

Arepas are quite soft dense inside which I find makes them rather filling so even though they're small. you won't need more than two or three at a time.



Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Omit the oil and cheese to make it Oil Free too.



Ingredients

1 cup masa harina ( I use a brand called PAN which is easy to get hold of)
1 cup warm water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
30g grated vegan cheese (optional)
A few grounds of black pepper
1 tbsp oil for frying


Method

Place the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix together.

Add the warm water and stir to form a stiff dough. Knead with the spatula and the dough will become less sticky and more maleable.

Knead it well to make the dough nice and elastic. 

Heat the oil in a large frying pan on a medium high heat, making sure the whole of the base is covered. 

Divide your dough into 6 and roll into balls. Roll each ball into a cylinder and then press down on it to make a patty shape.

Place the 6 arepas into the heated frying pan and cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden.

Remove from the heat and place on a kitchen towel to absorb any excess oil. Allow to cool for a few minutes until you can handle them before eating. 

Can be eaten on their own as a snack or as an accompaniment to a meal. You can also slice in half and fill with your choice of filling.

Easy peasy!

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