My Arepastel Experiment Day
Alright folks, so today I finally decided to stop scrolling past all those “must-try arepastel” ads and actually give it a go. Saw it everywhere, people raving, looked kinda simple. Figured, how hard could it be? Let me tell you my whole journey with this stuff.
First thing, needed supplies. Went down to the big supermarket. Thought it would be easy. Wrong! Ended up wandering aisles like a lost puppy. Asked this poor store clerk, must have asked ten times, finally found it tucked away near the baking stuff. Just a simple bag, like flour but a bit different color.
Got home, cleared the kitchen counter. Followed the basic instructions on the back – mix with water, knead it into a dough. Sounded straightforward. Measured stuff, mixed it. Felt sticky and weird, stuck to my hands like crazy glue. Washed hands three times already! Kept kneading, adding a tiny bit more water. Finally got it kinda smooth. Took way longer than I thought.
First attempt? Total rubbish. Tried rolling it out thin. Felt tough. Put some beans in, tried folding it like the picture. Thing started cracking at the edges. Pinched it shut, looked lumpy. Dropped it into hot oil. Sat there waiting. Smelled kinda okay? Poked it. It stayed pale. Finally fished it out, dark brown patches but felt soft and… soggy? Bit into it. Hot. Beans okay, but the outer thing? Rubbery. Threw it away. First fail.
Back to square one. Mixed another batch, used less water this time. Kneaded it longer, really worked it. Tried rolling thinner. Put less beans in. This time I heated the oil hotter. Dropped it in. Fried faster, got a nice golden color! Exciting! Looked like the pictures! Fished it out, let it cool a sec. Bit into it… CRUNCH! Nice! Crispy outside, soft beans inside. Couldn’t believe it! Third try actually tasted good.
So, what’s the big deal? Why bother with this arepastel thing? Here’s my take after wrestling with it:
- First win? Crazily crispy texture when you get it right. That crunch is something else. Unlike other fried doughs I’ve tried.
- Super cheap to make. That bag cost almost nothing and made loads. Beans? Pennies. Total win for budget stuff.
- Super quick cooking once you figure it out. Seriously, once the oil is hot? Boom, like 2-3 minutes. Done. Perfect snack speed.
- Good for using up bits and bobs. Made a few with leftover cooked chicken bits? Worked! Shredded cheese? Why not! Messed around, was fun.
- Looks fancier than it is. Took a picture of the good ones? Friends thought I bought them somewhere nice. Big compliment!
Yeah, it took me a few tries. Got sticky, messy hands. Burned a few. But once you crack the dough texture and get the oil hot enough? Mind totally blown by how simple and good it is. It’s not magic, it’s just… clever. Definitely keeping arepastel in my snack rotation now. Give it a shot if you haven’t, stick with it, you might just get hooked.
