This straightforward Pupusa Recipe will educate you the way to make these bean and cheese-filled tortillas. The pupusas are straightforward to customise, and are usually paired with curtido for a tasty lunch, dinner or snack.
![](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe_web-14.jpg)
Oh look, one other recipe from my in-laws!
Final week I shared their Panes con Pollo recipe, and at present I am sharing the notorious pupusa recipe. The primary documentation I’ve of me making an attempt pupusas is in 2015, although to be sincere, I am pretty sure I attempted one earlier than then, I simply wasn’t as obsessive about taking meals pictures again then.
To say it was love at first chunk can be an understatement. I beloved the simplicity of them, and the way they have been SO flavorful, and that there have been many varieties to select from.
For this pupusa recipe, I opted to stay with beans and cheese because the filling, however I’ve included different variations within the recipe card “notes” part beneath.
What are pupusas?
Pupusas are made with masa harina (cornmeal flour) and water to make selfmade tortillas which might be then crammed with something from cheese to beans to pork, and even veggies like zucchini. They’re usually paired with a fermented cabbage combination often called curtido, and have been declared the nationwide dish of El Salvador.
Although they’re similar to Honduran and Colombian arepas, they’ve slight variations, one among then being that pupusas are inclined to large a bit bigger and flatter.
Recipe options
- A simple pupusa recipe that I would argue anybody could make!
- Stuffed with beans and shredded cheese, however can be crammed with pulled pork, zucchini or simply cheese.
- Paired with fermented cabbage, or curtido, for a flavor-packed meal.
![someone pulling apart dough filled with melted cheese](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe_web-12.jpg)
Components
Masa harina – The staple ingredient used to make the dough. No substitutions!
Refried beans – Conventional pupusas use selfmade refried beans, however my mother-in-law assured me it is acceptable to make use of store-bought ones (it is a lot faster this manner).
Seasoning – Goya hen seasoning is the way in which to go; you must be capable of discover it at most standard grocery shops.
Mozzarella cheese – Shredded or freshly grated
Cabbage – Inexperienced cabbage is the primary ingredient for the curtido, although you might sub purple cabbage and it would be high quality
Carrots – Purchase pre-shredded carrots to avoid wasting time
Onion – White onion or yellow onion
Vinegar – White vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work
Directions
Step 1: Assemble the curtido. First, convey a big pot of water to a boil, then add the cabbage and prepare dinner it till it is mushy. Reserve ½ cup of the boiling water, then drain the remaining. Add the cabbage to a big bowl, together with the carrots, onion, vinegar and reserved water. Permit it to sit down and ferment whilst you put together the pupusas.
![a bowl filled with cabbage, carrots and sliced onion](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe_web-10.jpg)
Step 2: Make the dough. Add the masa and salt to a big mixing bowl, then slowly pour within the heat water and blend every thing collectively along with your arms till it resembles the feel of play-doh.
Step 3: Make the filling. Subsequent, add the refried beans to a separate bowl, then pour within the hen seasoning (Goya) and shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir to mix.
![a glass bowl filled with refried beans and shredded cheese](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe_web-2.jpg)
Step 4: Create the pupusas. Seize a handful of the dough and use your palms to press it right into a disc. Use your thumbs to press across the edges in order that they carry up a bit, then add a tablespoon or two of the bean combination to the middle. Fold the perimeters of the dough up across the filling in order that the entire thing is within the form of a ball. Then, as soon as once more use your palm to flatten it again right into a disc. It is okay if it is not excellent trying! It takes a number of tries to get the cling of it.
![a disc of dough in someone's hand on the left and filled with refried beans on the right](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe-10-1024x1024.jpg)
![someone's hand holding a ball of dough on the left and flattened into a disc on the right](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe-11-1024x1024.jpg)
Step 5: Prepare dinner. Warmth a forged iron skillet or heavy-bottomed skillet with a small quantity of oil over medium warmth, then add 3-4 pupusas at a time and prepare dinner them for 2-3 minutes on the primary facet and 1-2 minutes on the second facet, or till they’re barely golden brown.
Step 6: Serve. To serve, add 2 pupusas to a plate, then prime them with a few of the curtido.
![uncooked pupusas in a cast iron skillet on the left and cooked pupusas on the right](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe-12-1024x1024.jpg)
Ideas and tips
- To be able to hold the dough moist, cowl the bowl with a humid dish towel, which ought to forestall the dough from drying out.
- You could have to moist your arms when working with the dough, because it tends to dry out sort of simply. It is okay if a few of the filling seeps out if you flatten the dough again into discs. This may really create crispy bits, which for my part, makes them additional scrumptious.
- I like to recommend shopping for pre-shredded carrots to hurry up the curtido-making course of.
What about salsa roja?
Guys, I do know! I do know, I do know. I obtained this recipe from one among Miguel’s aunts, and so they do not make the salsa roja, and I felt somewhat bizarre simply making up a recipe. However, usually talking, pupusas are served with salsa roja, which consists of tomatoes, onion, garlic, and hen seasoning.
Storage
Fridge: Retailer pupusas in a sealed container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Freezer: When you’d desire to prep these forward of time, make the pupusas however DON’T prepare dinner them. As a substitute, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and retailer them in a freezer-safe bag. Whenever you’re able to eat/prepare dinner them, thaw them within the fridge in a single day, then prepare dinner them as traditional.
Reheating: Reheat pupusas in a lined skillet over medium-low warmth till they’e warmed by way of.
![a disc of cooked dough pulled apart revealing melted cheese inside](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe_web-15.jpg)
Extra recipes you will love
When you made this recipe, be sure you depart a remark and star score beneath. Thanks!
![discs of cooked dough on a plate beside a small dish of cooked cabbage and carrots](https://thealmondeater.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pupusas-recipe_web-14-300x300.jpg)
Pupusa Recipe
This straightforward Pupusa Recipe will educate you the way to make these bean and cheese-filled tortillas. The pupusas are straightforward to customise, and are usually paired with curtido for a tasty lunch, dinner or snack.
Servings: 14 pupusas
Components
for the dough:
- 3 cups masa harina
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 ¾ cups heat water
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil or oil of alternative; for frying
for the filling:
- 15 oz. refried beans
- 1 packet hen seasoning (ideally Goya)
- 1 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
for the curtido:
- ½ head inexperienced cabbage sliced
- 1 massive carrot peeled and sliced thinly (or use ½ cup pre-shredded carrots)
- ½ onion thinly sliced
- salt to style
- ½ cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup boiling water or extra
Directions
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Begin by making the curtido: convey a big pot of water to a boil, then add the cabbage and boil it till mushy; reserve ½ cup of the water, then drain the remaining. Switch the cabbage to a bowl and add the carrot, onion, salt, vinegar, and the reserved scorching water. Permit the combination to sit down whilst you put together the pupusas.
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Subsequent, make the filling: stir the refried beans, hen seasoning and cheese collectively in a bowl; put aside.
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Subsequent, make the dough: add the masa and salt to a big mixing bowl, then add the water in 1 cup at a time, utilizing your arms to stir every thing collectively to kind the dough. As soon as the entire water has been added, the dough ought to really feel much like play-doh.
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Now, it is time to assemble the pupusas! Seize a small handful of the dough and use your palms to flatten it right into a disc. Use your fingers to carry the perimeters up a bit so it resembles a shallow cup, then add 1-2 tablespoons of the bean combination into the middle. Fold the perimeters up in order that the dough varieties a ball, then use your palms to flatten it again out right into a disc. It is okay if it is not excellent! This course of takes a number of tries to get proper. Repeat this course of till the entire bean combination is used up.
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Warmth 1 tablespoon of oil in a forged iron skillet (or heavy bottomed skillet) over medium warmth. Add 3 pupusas and prepare dinner them for 2-3 minutes, then use a spatula to flip them over and prepare dinner for 1-2 minutes till they’re golden on the skin. Repeat this course of with the entire pupusas.
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Serve pupusas with curtido on prime (and salsa roja, if out there) and luxuriate in!
Notes
Variations:
- Zucchini: shred the zucchini, then season it with salt and hen seasoning. Let the combination sit for five minutes. Switch the zucchini to a nut milk bag, or place it on prime of a number of paper towels and squeeze out the surplus moisture; pour it right into a bowl, then stir within the mozzarella cheese.
- Chicharron (pork): ensure that to make use of a fattier lower. Lower the pork into bite-size items, then boil it and add some salt, Previous Bay seasoning and garlic. As soon as it is mushy, switch it to a skillet and pan-fry it till brown. Switch it to a meals processor, together with tomato, onion, inexperienced pepper, and a pair of garlic cloves; pulse every thing collectively a number of instances, then add hen seasoning to style. Pressure out any water, then stir within the mozzarella cheese.
Vitamin
Energy: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 6g | Fats: 5g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Ldl cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1024IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 2mg