|   Posted: February 25, 2020

Pupusas [pu-PU-sas] are a traditional Salvadoran comfort food made of thick, handmade corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans and/or meat and then grilled or fried. 

On Fridays during Lent, the six weeks leading up to Easter, many Salvadorans do not eat meat. Try these meat-free treats for a taste of Salvadoran Easter anticipation!

Yield: 12 servings 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups masa flour (such as Maseca instant corn flour)
  • 2⅔ cups warm water
  • 3 tsp. salt
  • ¼ cup cooking oil, plus more for frying
  • ½ small onion, chopped
  • 1 (15-oz) can refried beans
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese
  • ½ green bell pepper, diced

Directions

  1. Place masa flour in mixing bowl. Add warm water and salt. Mix about 1 minute to form a thick, sticky dough. (Pro tip: Use a stand mixer.) Cover bowl with a damp towel and set aside.
  2. Heat ¼ cup oil in large soup pan over medium heat. Add onion and fry until golden brown. Mix in beans and turn heat to low.
  3. Place cheese and bell pepper in food processor or blender. Blend until finely chopped. Add cheese mixture to beans. Stir until smooth, adding a little water if it gets too thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Form dough into egg-size balls. Press thumb into center of each dough ball to make a pocket for fillings. (Pro tip: Put some oil on hands to reduce stickiness.)
  5. Place about 2 tbsp. of bean-and-cheese filling in each dough pocket. Pull dough around filling and pinch edges closed. Flatten into a disk shape by gently flipping back and forth between hands.
  6. Using a griddle or a skillet coated with oil, cook pupusas over medium-high heat until puffy with golden-brown spots.
  7. Serve hot. For extra authenticity, serve with a vinegary, spicy slaw.

Pupusas [pu-PU-sas] are a traditional Salvadoran comfort food made of thick, handmade corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans and/or meat and then grilled or fried. 

On Fridays during Lent, the six weeks leading up to Easter, many Salvadorans do not eat meat. Try these meat-free treats for a taste of Salvadoran Easter anticipation!

Yield: 12 servings 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups masa flour (such as Maseca instant corn flour)
  • 2⅔ cups warm water
  • 3 tsp. salt
  • ¼ cup cooking oil, plus more for frying
  • ½ small onion, chopped
  • 1 (15-oz) can refried beans
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese
  • ½ green bell pepper, diced

Directions

  1. Place masa flour in mixing bowl. Add warm water and salt. Mix about 1 minute to form a thick, sticky dough. (Pro tip: Use a stand mixer.) Cover bowl with a damp towel and set aside.
  2. Heat ¼ cup oil in large soup pan over medium heat. Add onion and fry until golden brown. Mix in beans and turn heat to low.
  3. Place cheese and bell pepper in food processor or blender. Blend until finely chopped. Add cheese mixture to beans. Stir until smooth, adding a little water if it gets too thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Form dough into egg-size balls. Press thumb into center of each dough ball to make a pocket for fillings. (Pro tip: Put some oil on hands to reduce stickiness.)
  5. Place about 2 tbsp. of bean-and-cheese filling in each dough pocket. Pull dough around filling and pinch edges closed. Flatten into a disk shape by gently flipping back and forth between hands.
  6. Using a griddle or a skillet coated with oil, cook pupusas over medium-high heat until puffy with golden-brown spots.
  7. Serve hot. For extra authenticity, serve with a vinegary, spicy slaw.