Cheat Arepas with Shredded Chicken and Avocado Filling Recipe
This Cheat Arepas recipe offers a quick and delicious twist on traditional Venezuelan arepas using self-raising flour and Greek yoghurt for the dough. Filled with a creamy, zesty avocado and shredded chicken mixture, these arepas are pan-fried to golden perfection, making them a perfect savory snack or meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 arepas 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Venezuelan
Ingredients
Scale
Arepa Dough
- 200g self-raising flour
- 200g Greek yoghurt
- Salt, to taste
Chicken Filling
- 2 chicken breasts
Avocado Filling
- 1 avocado, peeled and mashed
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped
- 10g fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Bring a pan of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and allow them to simmer gently for 15-20 minutes until fully cooked. Remove and set aside to cool.
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, combine self-raising flour and Greek yoghurt. Stir with a spoon until a rough dough forms, then knead with your hands for about 20 seconds. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and set aside while you prepare the filling.
- Prepare the Avocado Filling: Mash the avocado in a large bowl. Add finely chopped red onion, minced garlic, red chilli, fresh cilantro, lime juice, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
- Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken has cooled, shred it using two forks. Set aside.
- Portion the Dough: Knead the dough briefly for 10 seconds. Divide it into 6 equal pieces.
- Shape the Arepas: Flatten each piece of dough into a disk approximately 10cm in diameter and 1cm thick. Repeat for all portions.
- Cook the Arepas: Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the arepas and fry them for 4-5 minutes on each side until they puff up, develop brown spots, and are cooked through. Remove and allow to cool slightly.
- Assemble the Arepas: Mix the shredded chicken into the avocado filling. Slice each arepa open halfway and fill with approximately 2 tablespoons of the chicken avocado mixture. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute self-raising flour with all-purpose flour plus baking powder if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of chilli to your spice tolerance.
- The arepas can be made ahead and reheated in a pan or oven before serving.
- For a vegan version, replace chicken with roasted vegetables and use vegan mayonnaise.
- If the dough is too sticky, dust your hands with flour while shaping.
Keywords: Arepas, Chicken Arepas, Venezuelan Snack, Avocado Filling, Easy Arepas, Quick Dinner
