Arepas de Plátano Maduro: Sweet Cheese-Filled Venezuelan Treat 2026

Arepas de plátano maduro are a sweet, golden twist on Venezuela's most beloved bread. Ripe plantains are boiled until tender, mashed into a silky purée, and kneaded with precooked yellow corn flour and butter to make a soft, pliable dough. Each little round is then stuffed with mozzarella and griddled until the cheese melts into a gooey, savory center.

The magic is in the contrast: the natural caramel-like sweetness of the plantain against the salty, stretchy cheese. They are traditionally served for breakfast or as an afternoon merienda, and they come together with just six everyday ingredients. A fresh salad or a spoonful of guasacaca on the side turns them into an irresistible bite.

This recipe makes four generous arepas and takes about an hour from start to finish, most of which is hands-off boiling time. The dough is forgiving, so even a first-timer can shape and fill them with confidence.

Ingredients for Arepas de Plátano Maduro

Makes 4 arepas

• 2 very ripe plantains (about 400 g / 14 oz total)
• 65 g (½ cup) precooked yellow corn flour
• Salt
• 20 g (1½ tbsp) butter, at room temperature
• 4 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil

How to Make Arepas de Plátano Maduro Step by Step

1. Boil the Ripe Plantains

The first thing we are going to do is boil 2 ripe plantains. Place a pot of water over high heat, and cut and discard the ends of the plantains. When the water starts to boil, add the plantains cut into even pieces and let them cook for about 25 minutes over medium-high heat.

2. Peel and Mash the Plantains

Remove the plantains from the pot and let them cool slightly. Once they have come down to room temperature, peel them, remove the inner seeds, and place them in a bowl to mash with a potato masher until you get a purée.

3. Mix the Dough

Next, add 65 g of precooked yellow corn flour, a pinch of salt, and 20 g of room-temperature butter, and knead well until all the ingredients are perfectly combined.

4. Let the Dough Rest

Shape the dough into a ball and let it rest for 15 minutes.

5. Form and Fill the Arepas

Now we are going to form the arepas. To do this, make 4 balls of dough that are all the same size, and once each ball is formed, press a hollow into the center like a little bowl. Place 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella in that hollow, then close the hollow by re-forming the ball. Finally, flatten the ball with your hands, giving it the characteristic arepa shape. The image below shows each of these steps as they come together.

6. Shape All the Arepas

Repeat the same process as before until all the plantain arepas are formed.

7. Cook the Arepas

Now all that is left is to cook the arepas. To do this, place a skillet over medium-high heat and grease it with 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil. When the skillet is hot, add the arepas and cook them for 5 minutes per side, checking on them from time to time so they do not burn.

8. Serve the Arepas

Serve the plantain arepas warm, fresh off the heat, filled with the melted cheese.

Tips for the Best Arepas de Plátano Maduro

Get the Dough Texture Right

The dough should be malleable, neither too dry nor too wet. If it looks dry and cracks, add a little water; if it feels too wet, add a bit more flour until you reach the perfect texture.

Choose a Good Melting Cheese

Mozzarella works beautifully, but any cheese that melts well will do. The goal is that delicious combination of the arepa's sweetness and the filling's saltiness.

Serve Them Right Away

These arepas are at their best served hot and freshly made, while the cheese is still gooey. A fresh salad or guasacaca on the side makes them an irresistible bite.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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