Arepas are multi-purpose, savory, maize-flour delicacies that you can make very simply by mixing arepa flour and water, shaping them into flat patties and then frying them. You can find arepa flour in most grocery stores or online grocers (we use the PAN brand, but there are many varities out there).
Adding flavor elements such as shredded cheese are the traditional ways to eat it, but we've also been experimenting with adding leftover salmon — which creates something of a pink arepa — right into the dough before shaping the patties.
Alternatively, you can make a classic (seafoodless) arepa dough, and then use your seafood, and other elements like feta cheese or avocado, to stack on top.
But you can also stack arepas with slices of smoked salmon with goat cheese; or a little heap of crab meat and spicy mayo.
The possibilities are truly endless. The key is to stay creative!
