my comfort recipes
♥ Log in Sign up
  • en
  • fr
  • es
  • pt
  • de
  • it
  • nl
    • 🌍 World Kitchen
    🌍 World Kitchen
    Log in Sign up
    Home / Dinner / Reina Pepiada

    Reina Pepiada

    The queen of arepas — golden corn cakes stuffed with creamy avocado-chicken salad that melts in your mouth.

    ⏱ 30 minPrep time
    🔥 25 minCook time
    🍽 4Servings
    🏷 DinnerCategory
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
    Reina Pepiada - Venezuela

    Reina pepiada — literally ‘the curvy queen’ — was named in the 1950s after a Venezuelan beauty queen, and the arepa has kept its crown ever since. It pairs a classic arepa with a rich salad of shredded chicken, ripe avocado, and mayonnaise, seasoned with cilantro and lime.

    The crowned queen of the arepa world

    The arepa is crisp outside and steamy inside, while the filling is cool, creamy, and bright — velvety avocado folded through tender chicken with a whisper of citrus and herbs. Warm corn and cold, creamy salad make a match that never gets old.

    Venezuelan recipes →

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Simmer the chicken in salted water with half the onion and one garlic clove for 15 to 18 minutes until cooked through; cool and shred finely.
    2. Make the arepa dough from the cornmeal, warm water, and salt, shape into 4 rounds, and cook on an oiled griddle over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes per side, then finish 10 minutes in a 350°F oven.
    3. Mix the shredded chicken with the remaining onion and garlic, mashed avocado, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper; taste and adjust.
    4. Split each warm arepa open, fill generously with the reina pepiada salad, and serve immediately.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Use avocados that are fully ripe but still firm enough to mash into chunks — the texture is part of the charm. The chicken salad keeps 2 days in the fridge, but assemble the arepas only when ready to eat.

    Rate this recipe

    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
    Sign in to rate this recipe.

    Recipe details

    Prep30 min
    Cook25 min
    Servings4
    CategoryDinner
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

    Keep browsingYou might also like

    View all recipes →