Hearty MUST TRY Recipe!!!

Harris Farm Markets – Venezuelan Arepas Con Carne Mechada

Tender, slow-cooked beef, vibrant spices, and crispy homemade arepas come together in this hearty and delicious dish. Packed with rich flavours and comforting textures, it’s a perfect meal for any occasion. Serve with black beans and crumbled feta for an authentic and satisfying bite.

Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 45 minutes 
Serves: 4

Ingredients

1. Heat a frying pan with olive oil over high heat. Add the beef and sear for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place into a pressure cooker. 
2. Keep the pan over in the same pan on high heatand add the onion, red and green capsicum, garlic, cumin, paprika and oregano. Stir for 3-5 minutes until soften. Add the tomato paste, pasta sauce, ½ cup water and a good pinch of salt and pepper., Stir through.  
3. Bring to the boil, then transfer to the pressure cooker. Set the pressure cooker to 35mins and leave aside to cook.  
4. Remove beef and shred with two forks, stir back through the sauce in the pressure cooker with the coriander and stir to combine.  
5. Meanwhile, prepare the Arepa dough by placing 2 ½ cups of warm water into a bowl with salt and olive oil. Stir until dissolved. Slowly add the Harina PAN to the bowl, stirring, breaking any little balls of flour, until all combined. Cover with a tea towel and rest for 5 minutes.  
6. Add some olive oil to your hands and roll into approx. 6 equal size balls. Shape each ball into a flat 1cm-thick Arepas.  
7. Heat a griddle or a cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the Arepas and cook for 5 minutes one each side until golden brown.  
8. Slice open along the Arepa to form a pocket and fill it up with shredded beef, black beans and top with crumbled feta cheese.