I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I have a weakness for arepas and I eat them almost every day for breakfast. Eating arepas makes me happy and connects me with my country.
In Colombia we eat all kinds of arepas and these Arepuelas or Anisitas (sweet arepas) are very popular on the Atlantic coast of Colombia. You can eat them with hot chocolate for breakfast or just as a quick snack with coffee. They are crispy, sweet and delicious. Enjoy!
Ingredients
(6 arepas)
1 cup masarepa (preecooked cornmeal)
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon crused anise seeds
Vegetable oil for frying
Directions
1. Combine the masarepa, warm water, anise seeds and sugar, mixing thoroughly. Let mixture stand for five minutes.
2. Knead with your hands for about 3 minutes, moistening your hands with water as you work.
3. Form 6 small balls with the dough. Place each ball between 2 plastic bags and with a flat pot cover, flatten to ΒΌ inch.
4. Heat the vegetable oil in a large heavy pot to 350 F. Add the arepas in the heated oil one by one, fry for 3 minutes, turning over once about half way through.
5. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the arepas from the oil and drain on paper towels.
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5 Star Foodie
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 11:24 AM:
Yum! Those sound so perfectly crisp and I love the flavors with anise!
Bo
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 11:32 AM:
I have always wanted to make arepas…those look delicious!
ruth
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 1:20 PM:
This sound so appealing. Crusty and sweet with a touch of aniseed! Very moorish indeed!!
aruna
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 1:41 PM:
Looks delicious!!
Blond Duck
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 1:45 PM:
Popped in from Barbara’s to say hi! You have a fascinating blog!
Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 2:58 PM:
I’d totally have this for breakfast everyday if I could, too!
These look great. Sometimes I eat Korean food because I want to feel connected to the country, too. 
Sandra g
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 4:00 PM:
Oh I love this! it reminds me of “arepitas” that we make in The Dominican Republic, we use corn meal, anise seeds, eggs, milk and some butter, we eat them at lunch time as a side dish, will definitely make this soon, yum!
Erica
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 4:04 PM:
Thank you guys for visiting my blog!
grace
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 4:39 PM:
talk about your ideal breakfast–i can definitely see how you can stand to eat these every morning! how delightful they’d be, even without the aromatic anise.
Baking is my Zen
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 5:02 PM:
Erica, what can be substituted for the anise?
Erica
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 5:20 PM:
Baking is my Zen- The anise is very important in this recipe!
Joan Nova
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 7:18 PM:
Of course you have a weakness for arepas
These anisitas look delicious. I love anything with anise flavoring.
rebecca subbiah
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 7:32 PM:
oh love your blog i learn something new every time have a great weekend Rebecca
Erica
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 8:21 PM:
Thank you all for the comments! I truly appreciate it!
Joy
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 8:23 PM:
I would want to eat them every day too! What a lovely way to start the day!
Christine @ Fresh Local and Best
on Feb 19th, 2010
@ 9:32 PM:
Arepas sounds like a great snack! I would probably pop them in my mouth compulsively.
Carolina
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 2:17 AM:
Hi Erica!
I’m an arepa lover too, but this is one of my favorites! I haven’t had one in ages!!
I’m so glad I discovered this page in English….now I can share with my friends and show them how wonderful is our Colombian food.
I’ll come back!!
Oysterculture
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 10:43 AM:
I’ve not even had arepas for breakfaset yet and I know I’d have a weakness for them as well. As delicious as they look I’m scared to get started =) The addition of anise sounds like something special.
Miss Meat and Potatoes
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 10:46 AM:
How lovely and delicate looking. I’ve never had one and will have to make these!
Erica
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 11:34 AM:
Thank you guys
norma
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 12:05 PM:
I am with you – I love arepas. This is a keeper because it has one of my favorite flavors…Anis.
Gracias
PLATANOS, MANGOES AND ME
Faith
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 1:46 PM:
These look crispy and so delicious! Perfect with the anise flavor!
pierre
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 3:27 PM:
i love anise in biscuits so congratulations !! Pierre
Anna
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 4:20 PM:
Hummm, I love arepas, but never seen the Massarepa in the supermarket. Maybe I overlooked it. It sounds delicious, I love anise.
Erica
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 4:26 PM:
Thank you everyone!
Eddie
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 8:06 PM:
Hi Erica. I lived in Medellin for 6 months a few years ago and hardly a day goes by that I don’t crave some Colombian food! About a month ago I finally learned how to make the large flat arepas that are so popular in Medellin. (Which I love toasted with butter and queso blanco.) I can’t wait to try these. Isn’t anise the flavor in Agua Diente? Hmmmm. Ha ha. Love this site.
Erica
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 10:24 PM:
Eddie- Yes, Aguardiente is made with anise!
Chef E
on Feb 21st, 2010
@ 1:22 AM:
These also sound like something I would go nuts for! Crunchy is my weakness, add a touch of salt! Somehow hot sauce, even for breakfast would find its way onto them
Anh
on Feb 21st, 2010
@ 5:35 AM:
I am so excited to find your blog. Colombian cooking is so strange to me, but you definitely help!!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
on Feb 21st, 2010
@ 8:43 AM:
I had one of these recently and I agree they’re delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe Erica! It’s like you’re reading my mind!
Erica
on Feb 21st, 2010
@ 9:23 AM:
Thank you all for taking the time to read my post!
Soma
on Feb 23rd, 2010
@ 12:35 PM:
What a beautiful delicacy!! This looks like Indian pooris, except with cornmeal and sweet. The anise must be adding nice flavor.
Nilda Payeur
on Apr 2nd, 2010
@ 6:40 PM:
I would appreciate more visual materials, to make your blog more attractive, but your writing style really compensates it. But there is always place for improvement
Mery
on Apr 4th, 2010
@ 12:09 PM:
Hello Erica; made these Arepas con Anis…tremendas!!!! un favor, podrias poner las recetas para los diferentes tipos de bollos de colombia? Vivi en B/Quilla y me gustaria, si no probarlos nuevamente, verlos en fotos aunque sea!!!!
Erica
on Apr 4th, 2010
@ 7:22 PM:
Mery- Los bollos de Chocolo estan en mi lista de recetas.