Reina Pepiada (Venezuelan Arepas)

Reina pepiada is a Venezuelan chicken and avocado filling for arepas! Arepa reina pepiada is my favorite because it's so fresh yet satisfying! I fell in love with it when my Colombian friend introduced it to me years ago as her favorite arepa filling. I've been making it often since then, and I've been continuing to enjoy it after cutting gluten out of my diet since this entire sandwich is gluten-free!

This recipe was originally published on April 2, 2019. It was updated with new photos and information on May 1, 2022.

Arepa Dough Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make the arepas:

• Arepa flour. Also known as masarepa or harina PAN, arepa flour is pre-cooked cornmeal used to make arepas.
• Salt. Use fine salt.
• Water. To hydrate the area flour.

Filling ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make the reina pepiada filling:

• Chicken breast. Poaching it is going to make it moist and juicy. You can substitute it with chicken thigh if you want. If you’re not a fan of chicken, try using tuna (reina pepiada de atun).
• Avocado. Make sure your avocados are nice and ripe!
• Onion. Use white or yellow onion.
• Bell pepper. Use a red bell pepper. If you can’t find it, use either a yellow or orange pepper!
• Garlic. Use fresh, minced or grated garlic.
• Salt. Use fine salt.
• Black pepper. Freshly ground pepper has the best flavor!
• Mayonnaise. I’ve tried these arepas venezolanas with North American mayo and Japanese kewpie mayo, and both are delicious!
• Lime juice. Freshly lime juice is hard to beat, but you can use lemon as a substitute.
• Cilantro. I understand that cilantro is not everyone’s favorite herb, so you can skip it if you don’t like it!

You can add some chopped jalapeños for a little kick, or add shredded or diced cheese and make reina pepiada con queso!

How to make reina pepiada arepas

Step 1: In a pot, add the raw chicken breast, sliced onion, salt, and black pepper. Add water until the chicken breasts are covered by an inch or two.

Step 2: Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken and let it cool. Once cool, shred the chicken, and set it aside.

Step 3: In a large bowl, mash the avocados and add the garlic, bell pepper, onion, cilantro, mayonnaise, and lime juice. Add the shredded chicken and toss it until the chicken is coated with the avocado mixture. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Cover the bowl and keep it in the fridge.

Step 4: In a bowl, combine the masarepa and salt. Pour the water in and stir until smooth. Let it rest for a couple of minutes to thicken.

Step 5: Divide the dough into 8. Roll each one into a ball and flatten using your hands.

Step 6: Cook them on a heated nonstick pan or griddle. Let them rest on a wire rack until ready to serve.

Step 7: While the arepas are still a little warm, slice them in half and add as much filling as you like in between.

Recipe Pro-Tips

Rest the arepa dough! It takes a couple of minutes for the arepa flour to hydrate and thicken, so don’t add more flour if you think your dough is too loose.

Separate the dough into equal portions before flattening. To ensure that you have arepas of the same size, portion out the dough and roll each portion into a ball before flattening them.

Poach the chicken. Chicken breast is notoriously dry so I think poaching it would be the best way to keep it moist as well as add flavor before mixing it with the avocado.

Add more filling to your arepas than you think is necessary!  It can be messy, but don’t be shy and take big bites!

Storage directions

Storing: You can store cooked arepas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Make sure to reheat them on a skillet or in the oven before serving them.

Freezing: You can wrap each cooked arepa and put them in a freezer bag to store them in the freezer. You can reheat them in the oven for about 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Reina Pepiada?

Reina pepiada is a classic Venezuelan arepa filling. It's a zesty chicken and avocado salad full of lime juice and cilantro! It's a great way to switch it up if you're getting tired of basic avocado toast!

Interesting Fact About Arepa Reina Pepiada

Want some interesting facts to talk about when you serve these?

• Reina pepiada in English means "curvy queen".
• This dish was named after Susana Dujim, the first Venezuelan international beauty queen. An arepera, or arepa stand, in Venezuela paid homage to her achievements by creating this delicious arepa filling!