• Make-Ahead

Ingredients

1. 2 1/2 cups arepa meal (see Note)
2. 1 tablespoon kosher salt
3. Pinch of sugar
4. 2 2/3 cups warm water
5. Vegetable oil, for frying
6. 1/2 pound Oaxaca cheese or whole-milk mozzarella, cut into 36 thin 2-inch squares
7. 1/2 pound thinly sliced serrano ham, each slice cut into 4-inch pieces
8. Hot sauce, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix the arepa meal with the salt and sugar. Stir in the warm water. Press out any lumps in the dough. Cover the bowl and let the dough stand for 10 minutes, until firm.
2. Using moistened hands, divide the dough into 4 pieces. Roll each piece into a 12-inch rope. Cut each rope into 9 pieces and keep covered with a damp towel. Using moistened hands, roll each piece into a ball and flatten into a 2 1/2-inch round, a scant 1/2 inch thick. Keep covered.
3. Heat 1/4 cup of vegetable oil in each of 2 large nonstick skillets. Working in batches, fry the arepas over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 7 minutes. Add more oil to the skillet as necessary. Drain the arepas on paper towels and transfer to a large baking sheet.
4. Using a small serrated knife, split each arepa horizontally. Fill them with the cheese and ham and return to the baking sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Transfer the arepas to a platter and serve warm, with hot sauce.

Make Ahead

The filled arepas can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours; keep loosely covered.

Notes

When buying arepa meal, look for brands such as P.A.N. or Goya at supermarkets.