Arepitas de Maiz (Cornmeal Fritters) is a delectable side dish that can also be served as party food and is so easy and quick to make.
Why we ❤️ it
Arepitas de Maiz (cornmeal fritters) can often be found even in the most humble Dominican eatery as part of el plato del día --an inexpensive Dominican lunch meal-- and on the dining table of countless Dominican homes on any given day.
This was one of my mom's favorite dishes. You can imagine that I have eaten more than my lifetime allotment of arepitas de maíz. My mom could make them with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back, and so can I now.
The secret
There is a secret to making The World's Best Cornmeal Fritters™. It's a little seed that packs a potent flavor...
Aniseed.
Why it's so good
Aside from the aniseed, I think the other key ingredient in this is the little bit of sugar in it. This does not produce sweet cornmeal fritters; the sweetness is very subtle, and it just works well.
Serving suggestions
These are served as a side dish with our lunch, but you can also serve them as an appetizer with a dip. I recommend our mayoketchup sauce, or creamy avocado dip.
About our recipe
Cornmeal fritters are popular throughout the country, and while there may be small differences in each family's corn fritter recipe, the differences are just that: small. They should taste very similar to each other.
This recipe yields 4 servings, of about 3 arepitas per person.
This is my mom's recipe, it's so easy to make, and I love it, I hope you do too. But if you have a different way to make these, I'd love to hear about it too. Share it in the comments!
Recipe
[Recipe + Video] Arepitas de Maiz (Cornmeal Fritters)
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ¼ cup milk (whole or skim), + 2 tablespoons
- 2 egg (large)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon aniseed
- 1½ teaspoon sugar (white, granulated)
- 1 cup oil for frying
Instructions
Mixing ingredients: Mix cornmeal, milk, eggs, salt, aniseed, and sugar. Cover and let it rest in the fridge for an hour (this step is optional, see notes)
Frying: In a frying pan heat the oil over medium heat. Pour the mix one spoonful at a time into pan, making small thick pancakes. Fry and turn till golden brown on both sides.
Serving: Serve hot as a side dish, as finger food, or to accompany an afternoon drink (cocoa, coffee, or fruit shake).
Video
Tips and Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutritional information.
