Today I feel like blogging about this traditional Colombian arepa dish. Arepa with butter and quesito (fresh cheese) is what I usually eat for breakfast everyday. It is simple and quick to make and one of my favorites.
Arepa is a cake made of maize dough or precooked flour (masarepa) traditional in Colombia and Venezuela. In Colombia is traditional to make them with fresh corn , but today arepas usually made using pre-cooked white corn flour. Arepas are eaten Colombia, at all times of day.
Arepas can be made in different sizes and, thicknesses and can be baked, fried or grilled. They can be eaten alone, with butter, and cheese or any food can act as a topping.
In my homestate of Antioquia, there are a couple of foods that almost everyone eats daily. One is bean stew, which is usually eaten for dinner and the other is arepa with butter topped with quesito and hot chocolate, which is served for breakfast.
Quesito Colombiano
Quesito is a fresh cheese made with cow’s milk that is creamy, soft and delicious. In Colombia we use it as a topping for arepas and to bake some of our cheese breads.
Here in the United States you can find some substitutes such as Mexican queso fresco or fresh farmer’s cheese.
My Favorite Breakfast Ingredients
Arepa with butter
Queso Fresco o Quesito
Hot chocolate
Kim
Looks great Erica! I can see why this is such a tasty breakfast.
nora@ffr
yummy!!! happy halloween to you too!! 🙂
Simply Life
Oh I've never thought about having this - that cheese looks amazing!
rebecca subbiah
oh love the look of the cheese looks like feta
Erica
Thank you everyone for the comments!
Danielle
queso fresco is probably just about my favorite cheese.
Joy
Bread and cheese! We all do it so differently! I love your breakfast dish, including the Hot Chocolate!
Nat
What a lovely breakfast.... !!!! Paired with a mug of hot chocolate....sounds wonderful !
Tangled Noodle
I found masarepa today!! I can't wait to try your arepa recipes now. But you've also given me another challenge - to find Quesito Casero . . . !
Erica
Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments!
Sophie
Queso fresco colombiano está muy delicioso!
Un desayuno muy magnífico!!!
Oysterculture
Happy Halloween to you too! I don't have to tell you that this looks darn good and I will be making it some day soon. I cannot wait to give it a try, I love cheese, I love corn you've combined the two which in my book makes everything all right!
Olga
sometimes the simplest dishes are the best. I think fresh tomatoes and basil would be good with this too (not Colombian, I know, but still :O )
Janis Bland
Think this might just be on the menu for Saturday! 🙂
Erica
Thank you all for visiting!
Tiffani
Hola! I went to Colombia with my husband for two weeks. He is from a town about 8 hours from Bogota. He was born and raised there. I still don't know how to make Colombian food, due to the fact that his mother doesn't want to show me. But I think your website will help me learn on my own! We ate Arepas every morning at his grandmothers house, and they were SOOOOOO good!!!!
Thanks for sharing all these recipes!
Natalie
THANK YOU for your website!!! ALL the recipes are so easy to follow, and I get to cook traditional meals and impress my husband:)
Jeannie
Hello Erica, What is the difference between Quesito Colombiano and Queso Blanco? I would like to know which cheeses are best to make Arepas, bunelos and pan de bonos. Can I use the same cheese for all or do they require differnt cheeses? Thank you, I am confused on what cheese to buy (not because of your recipes)
Erica Dinho
Queso Blanco is a harder cheese. You can find it at Latin markets. Quesito is similar to farmer cheese in the USA or Mexican queso fresco.