
Franco Noriega Courtesy of Meals Community
Meals Community star Franco Noriega is placing a brand new twist on the traditional Latin American dish arepas.
“I’ve many associates from Venezuela and Colombia, and each time I’d go to their home, I used to be amazed at how versatile arepas are,” Noriega, 34, completely shares within the newest challenge of Us Weekly. “They eat them with eggs for breakfast within the mornings, as an appetizer for lunch and stuff them with many scrumptious fillings for dinner.”
The dish’s versatility impressed him to experiment with completely different concepts and flavors himself. “I really like arepas when they’re crunchy, so I usually make them bite-size and toast them for an extended time frame, so they’re crispy on the first chew,” he notes. “I promise additionally, you will fall in love with them!”
Experimenting with completely different cuisines is one thing Noriega has carried over to his new Meals Community collection, Sizzling Dish with Franco, which premiered on September 30. On the present, Noriega opens up about his Peruvian and Italian heritage whereas demonstrating fast and straightforward recipes that includes enjoyable flavors.
“Scrumptious meals has at all times been central in my life as a few of my favourite reminiscences have been within the kitchen consuming and cooking with my household and touring the world over having fun with incredible meals,” Noriega stated in a September Meals Community assertion. “Now, I’m thrilled to share my favourite recipes and lifelong ardour for cooking with Meals Community viewers.”
Noriega grew up in a household of restaurateurs and moved from Peru to NYC on the age of 18 to sharpen his cooking expertise at The French Culinary Institute, in keeping with his web site. He opened his first restaurant, Child Brasa, in 2016 and has gone on to open a number of extra institutions, together with Tivoli Trattoria and Fellini Espresso.
The mannequin additionally has earlier cooking present expertise, having served as a visitor decide on MasterChef México, MasterChef Celeb México and MasterChef Junior México.
“My profession has advanced during the last 10 years from being a mannequin to a chef to being a restauranteur,” he stated in a September interview with TV Insider. “I’m enthusiastic about what’s new and what’s coming. When the present took place, I used to be excited to tackle the problem. Hopefully, it will likely be the start of a pair extra reveals to return.”
Off the small display screen, Noriega additionally shares his newest recipes with followers by way of social media, from pasta dishes to empanadas to lava chocolate chip cookies.
Maintain scrolling to take a look at Noriega’s full arepas recipe:
Sizzling Dish with Franco airs on Meals Community Saturdays at 12 p.m. ET.

Franco Noriega’s Child Arepas dish, as seen on ‘Sizzling Dish with Franco.’ Courtesy of Meals Community
Twist on Custom
Components
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 cup P.A.N. high-quality cornmeal
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt and pepper
- 4 oz Mexican chorizo, casing eliminated
- 4 oz Muenster cheese, grated
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp chipotle in adobo sauce
- ½ lime, juiced
- 1 avocado, diced
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 200 levels.
2. Add 1 ¼ cups of water to a big bowl. Stir within the high-quality cornmeal, olive oil, salt and pepper till clean. Let the dough relaxation and hydrate, about 10 minutes.
3. Warmth a big skillet or griddle over medium-high warmth. Add the chorizo and prepare dinner, breaking it up into small items with the again of your spoon till it’s browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Switch the chorizo to 1 finish of a baking sheet with a slotted spoon, leaving any rendered fats behind. Add the chorizo to the oven to remain heat.
4. Cut back the warmth to medium. Divide the dough into 16 little balls. Take the dough balls separately and use your palms to flatten them into ½-inch-thick discs about 1 ½ inches in diameter. As you end every disc, add it to the recent pan, being cautious to not overcrowd. You’ll positively want to do that in batches.
5. As soon as the arepas are browned on each side, add just a little little bit of cheese to the highest of the arepas. Cowl to soften. Switch all of the completed arepas to the identical baking sheet because the chorizo and return to the oven to maintain heat. Repeat the method with remaining dough and cheese.
6. Combine the mayonnaise with the chipotle sauce and lime juice till mixed and blend with the chorizo. Prime every arepa with mayo chorizo, avocado and cilantro. Serve instantly.