Arepa Pelúa — which translates to "hairy arepa" — gets its name from the stringy shredded beef and melted yellow cheese that spill out from every angle. It's one of the most iconic arepas in Venezuelan street food culture, sold from Caracas to Maracaibo at dawn until midnight. The combination of tender carne mechada and gooey yellow cheese (queso amarillo or American cheese) is dangerously addictive.
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⏱ COOK DETAILS
🕐 Prep: 15 min
🍳 Cook: 12 min
🍽 Yield: 4 arepas
🌶 Cuisine: Venezuelan
🔥 Calories: ~420
⭐ COMMUNITY RATING
4.9/5
Based on 83 reviews
📋 Ingredients
- 2 cups Harina PAN (pre-cooked white corn flour)
- 2½ cups warm water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 lb flank steak or brisket (for carne mechada)
- 1 cup shredded yellow cheese (queso amarillo or cheddar)
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tomato, diced
- ½ tsp cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
👨🍳 Instructions
- Cook the beef: Place flank steak in a pot with water, half onion, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Boil 45 minutes until very tender. Remove, cool slightly, and shred with two forks into thin strands.
- Make the sofrito: Sauté remaining onion and garlic in oil until soft (5 min). Add tomato and cook 3 more minutes. Add shredded beef, season to taste, and mix well. Set aside.
- Prepare the masa: Mix Harina PAN, warm water, and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. Knead 2 minutes until smooth. Let rest 5 minutes.
- Shape the arepas: Divide dough into 4 balls. Flatten each to about ½-inch thick disc.
- Cook in arepa maker: Preheat arepa maker on high (green light on). Cook arepas 8–10 minutes until golden and firm.
- Assemble: Open each arepa with a knife. Fill with a generous heap of carne mechada. Top with shredded yellow cheese — it will melt over the hot beef. Serve immediately.
💡 Pro tip: For maximum "pelúa" effect, add extra cheese on top of the assembled arepa and broil for 2 minutes until bubbly and golden.
🍳 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 →