CRAFT by Under My Host® Issue No. 16 Made in America: Part I | Page 73

Shredded Beef Arepas Serves 6
Arepas , which are prominent in the cuisine of Venezuela , are corncakes made of precooked corn flour known as masa harina . Arepas are eaten across the country , across all socioeconomic groups , at all times of day . Masarepa , a type of harina , is widely available in the United States ( check the Latin aisle of your supermarket : Goya , PAN , and Areparina are popular brands ). It comes in both yellow and white varieties .
Native Venezuelan Lis Hernandez is a first-generation American and the chef-owner of Arepa Mia located in Sweet Auburn Market , a traditional African American market in downtown Atlanta . She prepares a mouthwatering recipe known as arepa pelua (“ hairy arepa ”), named for the long strands of shredded meat inside ; at her restaurants , she uses grass-fed beef from local farms including White Oak Pastures . Lis ’ s food , made with locally grown ingredients and sold at the market where Martin Luther King Jr .’ s family once shopped , represents so much of what I consider the modern Southern table to be .
If you choose not to prepare the arepas , the filling would make one mean South American sloppy joe on a toasted hamburger bun . You could also serve it between two Summer Hoecakes for a real multicultural treat .
For the flank steak 2 tablespoons pure olive oil 1 ( 2-pound ) flank steak Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 sweet onion , chopped 1 red bell pepper , cored , seeded , and chopped 3 garlic cloves , very finely chopped 2 Roma ( plum ) tomatoes , cored , seeded , and chopped ( about 1 cup ) 2 cups water , divided ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce 3 tablespoons ground cumin 2 tablespoons smoked paprika 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro 1 cinnamon stick
For the arepas 2½ cups warm water 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt 2 cups masa harina ¼ cup pure olive oil , for frying and handling the dough 2 cups grated cheddar cheese ( 8 ounces ), for serving Avocado Crema for serving ( see note )
1 . Heat the oven to 350 ° F .
2 . To make the flank steak , heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering . Pat the steak dry with paper towels and season on both sides with salt and pepper . Add
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