Arepitas de Maíz (Cornmeal Fritters)
Crispy, lightly sweet Dominican cornmeal fritters with a whisper of anise—ready in about 20 minutes and perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side.
Servings: 10 fritters
Calories: 389kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup 120 g cornmeal
- 1/2 cup 120 ml warm water
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon 14 g butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon 2 g anise seed
- 1/4 teaspoon 1.5 g salt
- 3 tablespoons 38 g sugar, optional
- 1 1/2 cups 360 ml frying oil, for shallow frying
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, egg, and melted butter.
- Stir the salt into the warm water, then mix into the bowl until no dry cornmeal remains.
- Add the anise seed and sugar (if using) and stir to combine; let the batter rest briefly.
- Heat the oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. When a small drop of batter sizzles, the oil is ready.
- Drop the batter by tablespoonfuls into the oil. Fry 2–3 minutes per side until golden.
- Drain on paper towels and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Mix thoroughly for even texture; no dry spots.
- Always add batter to hot oil (use a test drop to check).
- For a vegan version, use plant-based butter and a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoons water, rested 5 minutes).
Nutrition
Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 59IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg