Chicken, Black Beans and Avocado Arepas with Avocado Dressing

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Servings:

• Recipe serving size: 1 arepa
• Number of servings: Adjust Reset

Ingredients:

• For the Arepas

• 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
• 1 cup black beans, cooked
• 1 cup corn kernels, cooked (optional)
• 1 ripe, fresh avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and mashed
• 2 cups pre-cooked corn meal
• 2 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 8 oz. Mozzarella cheese, shredded

• For the Guasacaca (makes 1 cup)

• 1/4 white onion, peeled
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 1 ripe, fresh avocado, halved, pitted and peeled
• juice of 1/2 lime
• 1/4 cup parsley leaves, stemmed
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, stemmed
• 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 jalapeño, deveined, seeded
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place all the ingredients for the guasacaca in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Cut the chicken breast into strips. Marinate chicken breast with 1/4 cup of guasacaca sauce. Save the rest for dressing the arepas.
4. To make arepas, combine warm water with a teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Gradually add the corn meal and stir well to form a dough. Set aside for 5 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Place marinated chicken into skillet, turn the heat to medium and let it cook for 3 minutes. Cover the pan with the lid, turn the heat to low, and continue to cook for 8 more minutes or until done.
6. Form 8 balls of dough and flatten each onto a disk shape.
7. Heat a skillet or cast iron pan on medium high. Coat the pan with olive oil. Place 4 arepas in the hot pan and cook 5 minutes on each side until crispy and golden brown. Repeat the process for the other 4 arepas.
8. Place arepas in a baking dish in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and keep them warm, cover with foil.
9. When ready to stuff the arepas: using a sharp knife, slice open one side of the arepa as if you were opening a pita bread. Spread avocado inside and add the cooked chicken, black beans, corn, and a pinch of cheese. Finish by drizzling with guasacaca sauce. You can also serve the sauce on the side in a cup.

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