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Cheese-Filled Arepas

Cheese-Filled Arepas feature a crisp, golden exterior that gives way to a warm, stretchy mozzarella center. The gentle salt and corn flavors balance the rich, melty cheese, making each bite comforting and satisfying. Serve these for breakfast or dinner, as a snack with dipping sauces, or alongside hearty stews.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook30 mins
  • Serves14
  • DifficultyEasy
Cheese-Filled Arepas

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Cheese-Filled Arepas, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

37 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
55 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
0 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityFair
52 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

43
Heart Health
58
Metabolic
27
Digestive
20
Inflammatory
26
Performance
32
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Shred 3 ounces of the mozzarella and cut the remaining 5 ounces into 1/2-inch cubes. Transfer the shredded cheese to a large bowl and the cubed cheese to a medium bowl.

  2. 2

    Add cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, and warm water to the shredded cheese and mix to combine. Set aside for 10 minutes so the cornmeal can absorb the liquid. The mixture should look like soft Play-Doh.

  3. 3

    Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).

  4. 4

    With damp palms and fingers, place 1/4 cup of the arepa mixture into your palm and flatten it into a 2 1/2-inch disk. Put 3 to 4 cubes of the mozzarella in the center. Gently fold the edges of the dough over to fully cover the mozzarella cubes, patting to form a cake. Repeat until all the dough and cheese are used.

  5. 5

    Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 3 or 4 arepas and cook until both sides are golden brown and charred in spots, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and season with a pinch of the remaining salt. Place in the preheated oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining oil, arepas, and salt.

About This Recipe

Cheese Filled Arepas is made with 5 ingredients and serves 14. It takes about 45 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Canola Oil, Cornmeal, Mozzarella Cheese, and Salt. Each serving provides about 176.7 kcal.

Recipe Questions

What is Cheese-Filled Arepas made of?
The main ingredients are Canola Oil, Cornmeal, Mozzarella Cheese, Salt, Water. The full list of 5 is above.
How long does it take to make Cheese-Filled Arepas?
About 45 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 176.7 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Cheese-Filled Arepas easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 5 ingredients and 5 steps.
Is Cheese-Filled Arepas healthy?
Cheese-Filled Arepas has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 176.7 calories and 5.98 g of protein, or 12% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 2.3 g (12% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk and Corn, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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