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“Reina Pepiada” is Spanish for “Curvy Queen,” so you know that I am starting off with a flourish today! Venezuelan food, just like the Venezuelans themselves, are a zesty, filling, and tasty banquet, and Reina Pepiada is no different!
This Venezuelan delicacy is made of white cheese, a zesty chicken salad, and avocado mayonnaise. The protein-packed, cooling delight is then stuffed into a cornmeal pattie to create a one-handed sandwich.
The cornmeal patties have a special name called “Arepas,” and they are a thick but light type of cornbread that has been grilled and then baked to create a whole new taste for you to enjoy.
The salad itself is relatively new, as it was created in 1955 to honor Susana Duijm, a popular Venezuelan Celebrity who earned her fame after winning the Miss World competition.
There are very few variations on Reina Pepiada, but I’ve been scouring the internet to find the best ones out there.
Some of these recipes make the process easier, others add in a touch of differing flavors, and some have put a whole new twist on the original Reina Pepiada.
Today, I’m going to show you 25 of the most amazing Reina Pepiada recipes around, so you can pick out the method that suits your taste buds!
Before diving into the Reina Pepiada filling, I thought it would be nice to learn how to make the bread.
Arepas are cornbreads shaped into rounds and can be found all over South America.
There is evidence to show that hundreds of years ago, Arepas were being cooked and created in indigenous tribes all over the northern tip of South American, but mostly in Venezuela.
The name itself comes from the indigenous American word “Erepa,” which means “Corn.”
Again, I have brought you another method to create just the Arepas, and although the steps are very similar, Healthier Steps have added some extra suggestions.
Within the article itself, Heather Steps has links to additional filling suggestions, so if you love the taste of the Arepas and want to try out some other flavors, this article can guide you on your way!
This recipe by Enrilemonie is the first on the list of Reina Pepiada creations. They have chosen to stick to the original succulent textures of the popular Venezuelan snack, and with your homemade Arepas, you can create a truly delicious spread.
The recent history of Reina Pepiada is not lost on Enrilemonie, and if you wanted to learn more about dear Susana Duijm, then you should be pleased to know that the author of this recipe interviewed “La Duijm” when she was 50 years old.
Read more about that story as you create your Reina Pepiada.
Unless you already know Spanish, use Google Chrome’s Google Translate option to turn Cocina’s whole page into English. The translation is a little off, but you will understand the methods that Cocina has suggested.
For example, when they say “Mass,” they mean the “Arepas.”
There are so many South American, and specifically Venezuela, foods that can be eaten with your hands, and Recetas de Escandalo has really focused on this aspect when it comes to their Reina Pepiada recipe.
In fact, they have shared their own recipe on how to create delicious Arepas.
Originally the recipe for Reina Pepiada had petit-pois grains added to the cooling and smooth mayonnaise, but in most modern recipes, chefs have chosen to keep the pea grains out of their star snack.
If you wanted to create a more original interpretation, then cut up a few peas and drop them into the chicken and mayonnaise mixture.
The history of a word can bring so much depth to your cooking. When people say that they cook with heart, this is what they mean.
Susanna Duijm was more than a Miss World winner (although I would hate to belittle that title for her and Venezuela), but she was also a businesswoman who opened a shop to sell Arepas!
Learn more while cooking your own Reina Pepiada with Fra Golosi’s recipe.
Recetas Venezolanas version of the Reina Pepiada is all about the cheese! They have packed their Arepa full of the stuff, which sounds very North American to me.
This recipe has moved away from the additional textures that Craft Log and Mambo Cecotec have added, and instead, they have opted to add a depth of heat to the meal.
Paprika isn’t a common ingredient in Reina Pepiada, but boy, do they create some fun!
Zywonsci’s recipe has its own homemade Arepas, and they have created them to be big! If you want a sandwich that could last you until the sun sets, then this recipe is the one for you!
The majority of the recipes so far have used Arepas as the hand-holding carb, but if you would rather use something a little more commonly available, then how about a wrap!
If you haven’t noticed by now, Reina Pepiada is a healthy and delicious snack. In fact, it is so healthy that Eating Well has its own version of this popular Venezuelan meal.
Afeuegolento has added their own personal touch to this classic dish, and that is “puree and toasted sesame kimchi.” This Asian addition is the perfect addition to the South American snack!
Creating a recipe from a different country often means buying ingredients that you wouldn’t usually find at your local grocery store. In this case, an important but hard-to-locate ingredient is Venezuelan Cornmeal!
Well, Get Recipe Cart is all about finding these ingredients for you!
Side Chef has helpfully put a step-by-step visual demonstration of how to create the infamous Arepa, so if you need a hand to understand the process, use this recipe!
In my opinion, I Love Meat has created the best combination of flavors for their Reina Pepiada snack. The mixture of red pepper, cilantro, red onion, and lime gives you the kick that most of these recipes lack!
Instead of adding spice, SBS has opted to add in a sweet element to their Reina Pepiada. They have included small sweet peppers called Capsicum for a touch of difference.
Last but definitely not least, is the Panning The Globe’s interpretation of the popular Reina Pepiada snack. Their Arepas steal the show, creating a light and tasty bread.
