In Venezuela, breakfast is sacred. The traditional desayuno venezolano always starts with fresh-made arepas, and the table fills with options: perico (Venezuelan-style scrambled eggs with tomato and onion), ham, cheese, butter, and strong café con leche. This breakfast arepa platter recreates the full Venezuelan morning experience for families in California who miss home — or want to discover it for the first time.
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An electric arepa maker gives you perfectly cooked arepas every time — no flipping, no burning, no guessing. The most popular choice among Venezuelan home cooks in California.
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⏱ COOK DETAILS
🕐 Prep: 15 min
🍳 Cook: 15 min
🍽 Yield: 4 servings
🌶 Cuisine: Venezuelan
🔥 Calories: ~520
⭐ COMMUNITY RATING
4.9/5
Based on 89 reviews
📋 Ingredients
- 2 cups Harina PAN
- 2½ cups warm water
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 large eggs
- 2 tomatoes, diced small
- ½ white onion, finely diced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ lb queso blanco or fresh white cheese
- ¼ lb sliced ham
- Butter for serving
- Fresh orange juice or café con leche to serve
👨🍳 Instructions
- Start the arepas: Mix Harina PAN, warm water, and salt. Knead 2 minutes. Shape 8 medium arepas.
- Cook arepas in batches in your arepa maker, 8–10 minutes each batch. Keep warm in a 200°F oven wrapped in foil.
- Make the perico: Heat oil in a skillet. Sauté onion 3 minutes, add tomatoes, cook 3 more minutes. Beat eggs, pour into pan, and scramble slowly over medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Arrange the platter: Place warm arepas in a basket or board. Set out small dishes of butter, sliced queso blanco, ham, and perico.
- Each person opens their arepa and builds their own combination. The classic Venezuelan move: butter first, then add fillings.
- Serve with freshly squeezed orange juice or strong café con leche.
💡 Pro tip: The perico (Venezuelan scrambled eggs) should be slightly loose and creamy — not fully dry. The tomatoes keep the eggs moist and give them a distinctive flavor.
🍳 Make This Recipe With the Right Tool
Ready to make this recipe? An electric arepa maker is the fastest, most consistent way to cook authentic arepas at home. Millions of Venezuelan and Colombian families in California swear by the Holstein and IMUSA models.
🛒 Shop Holstein Arepa Maker on Amazon
Compare all 2026 models →
🔗 More recipes: Browse all 40+ arepa recipes →