Pour 2 cups of precooked cornmeal into a bowl.

Pour 2 1/2 cups of water into a separate bowl. Add the salt and sugar to the water. Stir.

Slowly pour the cornmeal into the water while mixing with your hand.

Mix well until all the cornmeal is wet.

Then add the 2 cups of shredded cheese to the cornmeal. Continue mixing until cheese is well incorporated into the dough.

Let the dough rest for a few minutes.

Divide the dough into 10 even sized dough balls.

Heat up a skillet over medium heat. Add just enough vegetable oil to coat the skillet.

Once the skillet is hot flatten one of the arepa balls with your palms

Place the arepa in the skillet. Add another one if your skillet is big enough.

Cook for 4 minutes. Then flip and cook for another 4 minutes.

Transfer the cooked arepas to a paper towel lined plate.

Repeat the above steps with the remaining dough balls.