An arepa is a Venezuelan cornmeal cake commonly split and filled with cheese or meat.
Arepas are made from ground maize dough, traditionally from pre-cooked or treated cornmeal. The dough is shaped into thick disks and cooked on a griddle, baked, boiled, or fried depending on the recipe. Once cooked, an arepa can be opened and filled.
Common fillings include cheese, shredded beef, chicken, avocado, beans, and eggs. Arepas are central to Venezuelan and Colombian food traditions, although preparation and preferred fillings vary by region.
Arepas are often confused with pupusas from El Salvador. Pupusas are also stuffed corn cakes, but their fillings are enclosed before cooking. Arepas are commonly cooked first and then sliced open for filling.