The Arepa Tricolor is a festive creation that honors Venezuela's national flag through food. Three fillings represent the flag's colors: yellow (queso amarillo — golden cheese), red (carne mechada — shredded beef), and dark/black (caraotas — black beans). This arepa is made for Venezuelan Independence Day celebrations, Christmas gatherings, and any occasion worth celebrating. A stunning, flavorful tribute to Venezuela on your plate.
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⏱ COOK DETAILS
🕐 Prep: 20 min
🍳 Cook: 10 min
🍽 Yield: 4 arepas
🌶 Cuisine: Venezuelan
🔥 Calories: ~450
⭐ COMMUNITY RATING
4.9/5
Based on 44 reviews
📋 Ingredients
- 2 cups Harina PAN
- 2½ cups warm water
- 1 tsp salt
- Yellow: ½ cup shredded yellow/cheddar cheese
- Red: ½ cup carne mechada (shredded beef, seasoned)
- Dark: ½ cup caraotas negras (black beans, seasoned)
- Butter for serving
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
👨🍳 Instructions
- Prepare all three fillings in advance: Make sure your carne mechada, caraotas negras, and shredded cheese are all ready before cooking arepas.
- Make the dough: Mix Harina PAN, warm water, and salt. Knead 2 minutes until smooth.
- Shape 4 arepas and cook in preheated arepa maker 9–10 minutes.
- Open each arepa like a book — all the way along one side without separating the two halves.
- Add butter first. Then layer the three fillings side by side in separate sections: yellow cheese on one third, carne mechada in the middle, and caraotas negras on the final third.
- The visual effect shows three distinct filling sections. Garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve with pride.
💡 Pro tip: Make the Arepa Tricolor for July 5th (Venezuelan Independence Day) or Christmas season (Navidades venezolanas). It's a deeply symbolic dish that connects the Venezuelan diaspora to their homeland.
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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.
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Compare all 2026 models →
🔗 More recipes: Browse all 40+ arepa recipes →