Air Fryer Cheese Arepas

• 2 cupsmasarepa — precooked white corn meal like P.A.N. — not masa harina, not cornmeal
• 2.5 cupswarm water
• 1 tspfine sea salt
• 1.5 cupsshredded mozzarella — or queso llanero / queso de mano if your grocer has it
• 1 tbspneutral oil — for brushing

Method

1. 01

   Stir the salt into the warm water, then gradually work in the masarepa with your hand. Knead for 2 minutes into a smooth, soft dough — it should feel like playdough and not crack when you press it. Rest it, covered, for 5 minutes; the corn keeps drinking.

2. 02

   Work 1 cup of the cheese into the dough. Divide into 8 balls, then pat each into a disc about a half-inch thick, smoothing any cracked edges with a wet finger.

3. 03

   Press a dimple into the center of half the discs, tuck in a pinch of the remaining cheese, and sandwich with a second disc, sealing the seam — or keep it simple and leave them as single cheese-flecked cakes, Colombian style.

4. 04

   Brush both sides with oil. Air fry at 370°F for 18 minutes, flipping halfway, until the crust is golden with toasted freckles and the arepa sounds hollow when you tap it.

5. 05

   Rest 2 minutes — the cheese inside is molten lava — then eat hot, split and buttered, or as the plate-side to eggs, beans, or shredded beef.