Among the many ways to prepare a arepa that we have been seeing over the last few months, there is one that stands out for its history and its unique flavour: the arepa reina pepiada.
This classic was born in 1955inspired by the triumph of Susana Duijm, the first Venezuelan to win the Miss World title.
In honour of her, the brothers Álvarezowners of a arepera in Caracascreated a special filling to celebrate their beauty and success. Thus, this arepa became a tribute to the Venezuelan that made history and a reminder of what it means to being Venezuelan.
For many of us, eating a arepa reina pepiada is not just about enjoying a delicious majar, but a journey back in time that takes us back to our own time.s streets, family gatherings and to our roots.
If you miss this delicious arepa and you want to try making it at home, here we share with you a simple recipe, but full of that authentic flavour we miss so much. Let's prepare it and savour together an a little piece of Venezuela!
What is the origin of the arepa reina pepiada?
To understand why the arepa Queen Pepiada is so special, we have to travel to the year 1955. Venezuela was living in a time of great change, with economic growth and openness to new influences.
And in the midst of that moment of hope and national pride, something historic happened. Susana Duijma young Venezuelan woman, won the title of Miss Worldbecoming the first woman from Latin America to win that crown.
It was a triumph that filled the country with pride and made it an overnight success. symbol of beauty, elegance and charisma.
Inspired by this achievement, the Álvarez brothersowners of a famous arepera in CaracasThey wanted to pay tribute to him. They decided to create a special arepa in his honour, something that would reflect the freshness and the unique character of Susana.
Thus was born the arepa Reina Pepiadaa delicious blend of shredded chicken, avocado and other ingredients which soon became a success.
In addition, the expression "pepiada" (pepiada) was a way of referring to a woman with "curves" or, in the words of the time,"good looking". and nothing could better describe Susana and the Venezuelan spirit she represented.
The Queen Pepiada quickly became a classic and, over time, one of the most important Venezuelans' favourite arepas. For many, it's a perfect blend of textures and flavours: the smoothness of the avocado, the juiciness of the chicken and a hint of lemon for freshness.
And, beyond the taste, it is a reminder of a special moment for VenezuelaThe story of a woman who made history.
Today, the Queen Pepiada remains one of the arepas most beloved, not only in Venezuela, but in all the corners of the world where there is a Venezuelan. Because this arepa not only celebrates the Susana's beauty, but also the pride and identity of a country that, despite the distance, we always carry with us.
An exquisite combination of flavours
If there is one thing that distinguishes the arepa Reina Pepiadain addition to its history, is its unique taste.
Its combination of ingredients and the softness of its filling have made it the perfect choice for one of the Venezuelans' favourite arepasIt has earned its place in the kitchen of every home and on the menu of any self-respecting arepera.
What makes the Queen Pepiada is so special? It is the perfect blend of the softness of avocado, the juicy touch of the shredded chicken and the freshness of coriander and lime.
The filling is creamy and light at the same time and each bite is a perfect balance of flavours. Although this version of arepa has maintained its essence over the years, each family or arepera has its own particular way of preparing it, adding your personal touch to the recipe.
The original recipe included avocado, chicken and mayonnaisebut in this version we are going to present to you we will use Greek yoghurt and a touch of mustard to give it more body and a slightly more acidic taste.
Another ingredient that enhances the freshness of the Queen Pepiada is the chopped coriander, which gives it a aromatic and fresh touch to the fillingin addition to the small amount of celery and onion which add texture and a mild flavour.
For the Venezuelans living abroadthe arepa reina pepiada is like a recipe for nostalgia. When we bite into it, we not only feel its flavours, but we also relive the family moments and the visits to the arepera we have always had.
Prepare a Queen Pepiada at home is to bring to the table a a little piece of VenezuelaIt is something that immediately connects us to our roots and, with every bite, makes us feel that we are never as far away as it seems.
How to prepare this delicious recipe at home in a simple way
If you have already tried our recipes for sweet arepa, arepa tumbarrancho y Andean arepas, you can't miss our arepa reina pepiada recipeas always by Ricardo Estrada (@aerepologo). It's delicious!
What ingredients do we need?
For the arepas:
- 2 ½ cups of water.
- 2 cups of pre-cooked maize flour (classic) PAN flour is ideal).
- Pinch of salt.
For the filling:
- ½ baked chicken (you can use breast or thighs, whichever you prefer).
- ½ large, well-ripened avocado.
- ½ onion, finely chopped.
- 1 small stalk celery, chopped.
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yoghurt (you can substitute mayonnaise if you prefer the classic version).
- 1 teaspoon mustard.
- 2 tablespoons fresh coriander, chopped.
- A touch of lemon (to taste).
- Salt to taste.
Steps to follow to prepare the arepa
- Pour the water into a large container and add the pinch of salt.
- Add the pre-cooked maize flour little by little, mixing well by hand to avoid lumps.
- Let the dough rest for 3 minutes to hydrate it well and then knead it until it has a smooth, lump-free texture.
- Divide the dough into six portions and form the arepas, making them the thickness and size of your choice (although a little thick is perfect!).
- Cook the arepas in a budare or frying pan preheated over medium heatof 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown. For an extra touch, you can put them in the preheated oven for a few minutes, which gives them a fluffy texture and makes them puff up a little.
Steps to follow to prepare the stuffing
- It crumbles the baked chicken into thin strips. In a bowl, mash the avocado with a fork until it has a smooth texture. Add the celery, onion and shredded chicken with avocado.
- Add the Greek yoghurt, mustard, coriander, lemon juice and saffron.l. Stir well until all the ingredients are perfectly integrated and the mixture is creamy.
- Open the arepas in half, without cutting all the way through (as if you were making a pocket).
- Generously fill each arepa with the chicken and avocado mixture - don't be afraid to put plenty of filling!
- Serve the arepas hot and enjoy that mixture of textures and flavours that only the Queen Pepiada can offer.
With this recipe, you can enjoy a arepa reina pepiada home that will immediately connect you with the flavours of Venezuela.
It is a dish that not only fills the stomach, but also the heart, because it reminds us of where we come from and the moments shared around the table.
Would you like to prepare your own Queen Pepiada at home? If you do, we'd love to see how it turned out for you!
Share your photos and tell us about your experience, we want to know if you managed to achieve that so Venezuelan flavour or if you gave it your own special touch.
You can upload your photos on social networks using the hashtags #arepareinapepiada #reinapepiadavenezuela #gastronomiavenezolana #somosvenezolanos #venezolanosporelmundo #soyvenezolano #venezolanoseneuropa so that others can also be inspired to prepare this delicacy.
Curiara, uniting families.
