Arepas Con Carne Asada for #eattheworld

Welcome to our June 2020 post for the Eat the World project, led by Evelyne of CulturEatz. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!

This month we're visiting the country of Colombia - what a diverse and beautiful country. Did you know you can find nearly 2,000 species of birds in this country? More than anywhere else in the world! Exploring Colombia through the recipes I located had my mouth just watering! Plantains, rice, meat, tomatoes, hot chocolate, cheese galore! My Colombian Recipes is a lovely resource.

In addition to the arepas and carne asada I made and am sharing below, I was inspired to pick up some plantains from the grocery store, and cooked them at home for the first time. We oven roasted them for a delicious side dish to some roasted chicken.

Come experience Colombia with us through our recipes this month:

Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Bollos de Mazorca (Steamed Fresh Corn Rolls)
Sneha’s Recipe: Colombian Arroz Atollado
Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Cañón de Cerdo (Colombia-Style Pork Loin Roast)
Pandemonium Noshery: Bandeja Paisa - Colombian Platter
Making Miracles: Arepas Con Carne Asada
Dinner By Dennis: Pan De Bono (Colombian Cassava and Masa Cheese Bread)
Sugarlovespices: Aguacate Relleno (Stuffed Avocado with Smoked Salmon and Egg)
Kitchen Frau: Pan de Yuca (Warm Cheesy Buns)
A Day in the LIfe on the Farm: Arroz Atollado

Arepas Con Carne Asada from My Colombian Recipes

Ingredients
4 cooked arepas (recipe below)
1 1/2 lbs beef skirt

Marinade
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 TBS minced garlic (jarred)
1 tsp ground cumin
½ cup beer
1 TBS vegetable oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Combine steak in a ziploc bag with all marinade ingredients. Allow to marinate overnight.
2. When ready, cook steak on a hot grill for about 3-minutes per side. Allow to rest 5-10 minutes before slicing thinly and serving atop the cooked arepas.
3. Serving suggestion: serve alongside beans, rice, with some fresh diced tomatoes, or avocado, chopped cilantro, etc.

Arepas de Queso from My Colombian Recipes

Ingredients
1 cup pre-cooked white arepa flour
1 cup warm water
1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
2 TBS melted butter
1 tsp salt

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, stir until it comes together and then allow to rest about 5 minutes.
2. Heat a griddle to medium-high heat.
3. Knead by hand 3-5 minutes, keep your hands moistened with a little bit of water while working with the dough. Divide into 4 balls.
4. Flatten each into a thin round (about 1/4 inch thick). (I placed each ball between a sheet of plastic wrap to prevent sticking, and pressed down with a pot to flatten into a circle).
5. Don't flatten until ready to cook - as they can dry out pretty quickly and then become more fragile to handle. 
6. Melt a little butter in the griddle, and cook the arepas for 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

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