Arepa Catira: chicken and cheese arepa
Arepa Catira is a Venezuelan arepa filled with seasoned shredded chicken and grated yellow cheese, typically Gouda or a similar melting cheese.This recipe shows how to prepare the arepa, cook the chicken filling and assemble the Catira so the cheese softens from the heat before serving.
Ingredients
For the arepa dough
- 2 cups Precooked corn flour
- 2 cups Water
- 1/2 tbsp Salt
For the preparation of the chicken
- 1 Unit Chicken breast
- 1/2 Unit Red pepper
- 1/2 Unit Green or yellow paprika
- 1 Unit Tomato
- 3/4 Unit Onion
- 3 Unit Garlic cloves
- 1/2 tbsp Sweet red bell pepper powder
- 1 Unit Pinch of Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 tbsp Salt
Cheese
- 250 gr Grated yellow Gouda cheese
Instructions
Preparation of chicken
- Place the whole breast in a pot with enough water over medium-high heat.
- Add onion, salt and garlic to flavor the chicken. Cook for about 20 minutes.
- Separate the chicken from the broth. Strain the broth and reserve it for the stew.
- Now shred or shred the chicken, either with your hands directly or with the help of a fork. Set aside.
- Chop the onion, the peppers and crush the garlic.
- Place a large frying pan over medium heat, add a little oil of your choice, you can also use butter.
- Now add the onion to the pan, stirring constantly so that they do not burn and until they crystallize.
- Add the bell peppers, garlic, tomato and spices to taste.
- Then add the larded chicken and stir.
- After about 10 minutes the chicken is ready. Check if it needs a little more salt and it's ready.
Preparing the Arepas
- In a bowl place the water and salt, stir so that the salt dissolves.Gradually add the flour and stir to avoid lumps in the dough. We finish adding the flour and proceed to knead for a few minutes. The dough should be consistent, but soft and should not stick to your hands.
- Now wash your hands to moisten the dough so it does not stick, divide it into equal portions and make balls with each portion.Form the arepas by taking each ball with both hands and make circular movements. With each movement we press to flatten and shape the arepa.
- In a greased budare or frying pan over medium-high heat, place the arepas. After a minute we can flip them over to form a shell on the other side and prevent them from cracking.
Filling the arepas catiras
- Once the arepas are ready, proceed to the filling. We open the arepa, but not all the way, this allows the filling not to come out and it is easier to enjoy it.After opening it is very common to spread some butter, which melts with the heat. Then place some chicken, leaving room for the cheese.
- Now it is time to add the yellow cheese until the arepa catira is completely filled. You can add the sauce of your choice or just eat as is to enjoy the original flavor.
