Pupusas
Pupusas are similar to corn tortillas, only thicker and stuffed with cheese, beans or meat. The pupusa originated in El Salvador, but it is also popular in neighboring Honduras.
Image 
by Andrew®
Makes 4-5 pupusas
- Masa harina -- 2 cups
- Warm water -- 1 cup
- Filling (see variations) -- 1 cup
Method
- In a large bowl, mix together the masa harina and water and knead well. Knead in more water, one tablespoonful at a time if needed, to make a moist, yet firm dough. (It should not crack at the edges when you press down on it.) Cover and set aside to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Roll the dough into a log and cut it into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball.
- Press an indentation in each ball with your thumb. Put about 1 tablespoon of desired filling into each indentation and fold the dough over to completely enclose it. Press the ball out with your palms to form a disc, taking care that that the filling doesn't spill out.
- Line a tortilla press with plastic and press out each ball to about 5-6 inches wide and about 1/4-inch thick. If you don't have a tortilla press, place the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and roll it out with a rolling pin.
- Heat an ungreased skillet over medium-high flame. Cook each pupusa for about 1-2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned and blistered. Remove to a plate and hold warm until all pupusas are done. Serve with curtido and salsa roja.
Variations
- Pupusas de Queso: With a cheese filling. Use grated quesillo, queso fresco, farmer's cheese, mozzarella, Swiss cheese or a combination. Add some minced green chile if you like.
- Pupusas de Chicharrones: With a filling of fried chopped pork and a little tomato sauce. A reasonable facsimile can be made by pulsing 1 cup of cooked bacon with a little bit of tomato sauce in a food processor.
- Pupusas de Frijoles Refritos: With a refried bean filling.
- Pupusas Revueltas: Use a mixture of chicharrones, cheese and refried beans.
- Pupusas de Queso y Loroco: With a cheese and tropical vine flower filling. Loroco can be found in jars at many Latin markets.
- Pupusas de Arroz: A variety of pupusa that uses rice flour instead of corn masa.
- Cooked potatoes or finely minced, sautéed jalapeño peppers are also tasty fillings. Try a mixture of different fillings.
- The above recipe uses masa harina, a special dried cornmeal flour used in making tortillas, tamales, etc. If you are able to get fresh masa, definitely use it instead. The flavor will be much fresher. Just substitute the masa harina and water with fresh masa. One pound will make about 4-6 pupusas depending on size.
Notes
- The pupusa is so fundamental to the cuisine of El Salvador that the country has even declared November 13th "National Pupusa Day."
- Pupusas are traditionally made by slapping the dough from palm to palm to flatten it out. I find the tortilla press to be quicker and easier for beginners.
masa harina
where i live i cant find masa harina... can i use P.A.N. harina instead??
You can find Masa Harina at
You can find Masa Harina at any Mexican market...just go to the baking isle. Stick with what the recipe calls for...trust me!
Making our own variation tonight (my first attempt)
I tried some pre-made papusas, and they were really tasty- but like anything I know making them from scratch will be even better. We are filling ours with a combination of black beans and green chile. I cannot wait to try the more traditional variations I see on here!! The beans are soaking and I am getting impatient to start even though dinner is hours from now!
im mexican and i love trying
im mexican and i love trying new stuff and my first time i tasted a pupusa i was amazed!!!!!!!!!! they are the best expecially the cheese one and the chicarron!!!!
im guatemalan and my bf is
im guatemalan and my bf is mexican so his mom cooks but i cook better she jux does not have flavor. no ofense but she has not cooked nothin new in years. so i told him u got to stop suffering i introduced him to one of my favorite foods PUPUSAS! they are delicous. he loved them and his mom now wants me to teach her. she also liked the rice quesadillas they are good with atol de elote. yummy! hes glad he met me now he knows of many other foods. thanks to me.
hey i need the recipe
i live in texas central texas and i need the ingredients im el salvodorian and my favorite dish is PUPUSAS please let me know exactly what kind of flour i need and what kind of chorize i need beans n and cheese please
Did you make the pupusas?
Did you make the pupusas?
HE LOVED THEM!
I AM GUATEMALAN MY BOYFRIEND IS MEXICAN SO HE THOUGHT MEXICO HAD THE BEST FOOD YEH ITS GOOD BUT NOTHIN COMPARED TO CENTRAL AMERICAN FOOD. I MADE HIM A BET TO SEE WHICH WAS BETTER. I TOOK HIM TO A LOCOL PUPUSERIA AND HE "LOVED THEM" I WON THE BET AND NOW WE GO EVERY OTHER WEEK. IM GLAD WE GET TO SHARE CULTURES AND I LIKE TO INTROUDUCE HIM TO MANY DIIFERENT FOODS. I LOVE THEIR QUESADILLAS N HORCHATA. YUMMY!!
Pupusas are awesome!!!!
I tried my first pupusas in a restaurant in Brooklyn New York and I have to tell ya I am hooked forever. They are so delicious. My favorite were the ones filled with chicharron and refried beans. Ummmmmmm So good. I am from puerto rico but I love to taste foods from all the latin countries. El salvador has some really great tasting foods not just pupusas.
Try them and you too will be hooked.
Ricanhavoc
:)
wat filling is the best? i cant decide...
OMG NO WAY!!!!
Hola! Mi nombre es Carmen. Anyway, I was driving home today from a friends house and I passed this place a few times before and They had authentic Salvadorian food (I'm Salvadorian and Puerto Rican) so I decided to test it and see how it is. So I go inside, and it smells amazing, not to mention to cook is smokin' hot and speak Spanish (Marry me?) so I take a menu and as I'm looking down, they have the best deal I have ever seen 5 PUPUSAS FOR 99 CENTS!!!!
Pupusas are awesome!!!!
I tried my first pupusas in a restaurant in Brooklyn New York. They are so delicious. My favorite were the ones filled with chicharron and refried beans. I am from puerto Rico but I like to taste foods from countries all over latin america. I really believe there is a connection between salvadorian and puerto rican food, because they are so similar in taste and preparation.
Once you try pupusas you will be hooked forever.
Ricanhavoc
YUM!
They are so good especially when you're hungry, there's nothing to eat at home and some nice spanish lady out of nowhere comes to your door to sell these yummy treats.
Pupusas
Im a 7th grader nd for a spanish i have to make i chose this because well.....it is like the most greatest thing I've had in my life (this also includes ice cream)
They are actually popular in
They are actually popular in Guatemala as well because they come from the same indigenous people who invented them, which emigrated as war refugees from Mexico south to El Salvador hundreds of years ago (The Pipil). My favorite kind don't have beans or meat, they have squash, loroco and shrimp.... Mmmm :)
Should be on my way to El Salvador
I am very sad today as I was supposed to be on my way to El Salvador for a week. The trip got cancelled so instead we are going to cook a Salvadoran meal tonight. Pupusas, curtido and quesadillas for dessert. I LOVE pupusas and glad I learned to make them on one of my previous trips.
pupusa (:
my boyfriend frankie is from el salvador and he LOVES papusa , hes like obsessed l0l . i love them also (:
yummi!!!!!
heyy im kristen im in 7th grade and my friend osmar is el salavdorian and his mom made us these and they were delish osamr is awesome and he is wicked cool!
pupasas
If you haven't tried a pupusa yet, you should just kill yourself right now. It is the best food in the world(my opinion) I always eat like 5 of them since I'm Salvadorean.
pupusas
pupusas aare my favorite food in the world my mom makes them and i really want some, espcially with homemade salsa de tomate; and don't forget about the cortido!
:)
K VIVAN LOS MEXICANOS TAMBIEN NO NADAMAS LOS SALVADOREñOS:0
Y LASS PUPUSAS ESTAN BIEN BUENAS PARA CHUPARSE LOS DEDOS:):):):):):):):):)LOL:)LOL")LOL")LO")LOL")
jajaja ja si verdad las
jajaja ja si verdad las pupusas son bien ricas.....
HELP!!!!!!
I need some pupusas 911. I'm from Salem Mass. So you can imagen how different the food I was raised on, is to the food my boyfriend from El Salvador, likes to eat. I love to cook and bake and have been considered by many as a wicked awesome cook! And although Roberto enjoys my traditional New England dishes, I know he like many of us, longs for the comfort foods of his childhood. So I tried to surprise him by prepairing pupusas following the above recipe. Well needless to say, eating my pupusas will become a new form of punishment for naughty children in El Salvador (according to a conversation in spanish I was'nt supposed to understand). Please, will someone from El Salvador give me some helpful tips and maybe some other recipes? His favorite filling for pupusas are beans and cheese. He also likes beans and rice as well as chicken dishes.Thank you.
Help
Do you have email address? I could send you some recipes and ask him if he likes pollo en crema or bistek? I came to the States very little, but I learned from my mom to cook!
I'm Sry, but when i read
I'm Sry, but when i read this, I just had 2 laugh! Grl I feel ya! I think u should just keep trying, u know practice makes perfect:) I'm Mexican w a Salvadoran ex & my current boyfriend's Guatemalan so I've gotten all kinds of creative in the kitchen! Lol
pupusas
Try "chicharon" pork. Cook pok chops, then grind them like hamburger. Use it as the stuffing with cheese.
You can also use cut up green pepper with cheese!
pupusas
thanks for the tip,Im thinking of using it in a vender stan,thanks
If u haven`t tried pupusas
If u haven`t tried pupusas yet, u just don`t know what ur missing! Try them, u`ll love them! Saludos pa mi jente salvadoreña!
pupusas
I made these for the first time today and they turned out wonderful! I found that I had to add quite a bit more water to the masa, however, to get the desired consistency...maybe an extra 1/2 C., but once that was right, they went together easily and pressed in the tortilla press very easily.
nice but not the best food ever
I do like pupusas once in a while. It's a simple dish that is tasty. I know that it is the National dish of San Salvador. The country even fought for the rights to claim this tasty dish as their own.
Maybe if you are from there you get homesick and miss pupusas. I think this is the best dish from San Salvordor but not the best food ever. Another thing, it's just a matter of opinion. Everyone who grew up with their own country's food will think their food is the best so I do agree only in that way. Thanks for giving us non Salvadorians a chance to taste this dish Pupusas!! This recipe is very easy so now I have to cook with my heart and taste!
Papusas
I tasted papusa at my El Salvador's friend this weekend and I loved it!!!
I will try to make it but I would prefer to eat it in El Salvador with her... She is leaving this week.
Calm down everybody. I am
Calm down everybody. I am Brazilian. Pupusas are great. I love to eat the wonderful food from all over the world. I am glad you are very patriotic but peace out. Let's not kill each over spelling of salvadoran, salvadorean, salvadorian. What really counts is that you are a great people, and your culture, your food, and the the people are what makes El Salvador a nice warm place for all those who visites it. Don't fight. It is not worthed. Gos bless this planet, and all the wonderful cultures. :)
Hmmm...
DUDE im german. europe is soooo much better than south america. SERIOUSLY!! I ♥ Schintzel...knodel.....saurkraut....
anyway, im making pupasa for my class, cus i have to do a creative project on honduras.
The Fatherland vs. Tastebuds
Re: "so much better than SOUTH AMERICA"
It's Central America.
About your reasoning- that saurkraut is better than pupusas- I would have to point out that it just MIGHT be possible that your patriotism is ignoring your tastebuds.
pupusas son las majores viva
pupusas son las majores
viva nosotros los salvadoreños!
omgee.
the best food ever. so delicious. ><
Substitute for Chicharron
I live in a small country place in Australia, recently moved here, Spanish food and ingredients aren't so common from what I can tell so far, so I was wondering what would be a good substitute for Chicharron
--------------------------------------------
Acabo de ser un cambio, estoy viviendo en Australia, y de lo que e visto comida latina no es comun, ni los ingredientes, quisiera saber una buena alternativa al Chicharron
I'm not hispanic, but I've
I'm not hispanic, but I've hung out with hispanics most my life. I love pupusas. Mi novio es un salvadoreno and I want to try to learn to make them not just for me pero for him tambien. So hopefully i'll be able to make em and they'll be good. Lol
well pupusas are good but it
well pupusas are good but it is all about mexican tamales
ewwww
no offence but mexican tamales sucks, i like most of mexican food but not tamales
Lol
I kind of sort of agree with you. However, I am Mexican, from Sinaloa. Regions vary on their tamales. I will proudly say our recipe is better than tamales from further down south.
Pupusas
Since, we are talking about pupusas, one thing I found is when you cook them on a comal instead of using a gas powered grill, the cooking process is slower which marries the flavors so much more. I love doing things the old fashion way, specialy when it comes to cooking. Still waiting to find aplace in Las vegas where they make some decent chilate....Later salvatruchas
I LOVE PUPUSAS!!!!
THE PUPUSAS ARE SO GOOD DINNER MEAL FOR ME,
ACCOMPANIED WITH A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE.
THEY ARE GOOD IF YOU TESTED WITH BEANS AND CHEESE,
ALSO THEY ARE HEALTHY TOO.
u are nasty how can u eat
u are nasty how can u eat pupusas with a cup of hot chocolate u nasty serrote
u are nasty how can u eat
u are nasty how can u eat pupusas with a cup of hot chocolate u nasty serrote
Papusas are the BOMB!!!!!!!!
My sons girlfriend brought us some Papusas' from a birthday party this weekend, and I'm hooked. These are DELICIOUS. Can't wait to try to make them myself.
I HOPE U FINALLY BECAME AN
I HOPE U FINALLY BECAME AN EXPERT AT MAKING THE YUMMY PUPUSAS! AND YES MOZZARELLA IS THE BEST CHEESE TO DO IT WITH BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE FINE WITH THE UNLESS U USE THE WONDER FLOWER THAT IS LOROCO GOD BLESSED US WHEN SOMEONE MADE THE CHOICE TO USE THEM IN PUPUSAS QUE VIVA EL SALVADOR Y ULSULUTAN (FROM A PROUDLY BORN IN EL SALVADOR AND RAISED IN FLUSHING QUEENS NEW YORK MAMACITA E DISHO AMEN.....
I eat my first pupusa in El
I eat my first pupusa in El Salvador and loved it. I've been trying to find a good recipe for a while now. Thanks.
Married to El Salvadoran Man!
Im a white girl for lack of a better word and through hard work, patience and no help at all from my Mother-in-law have succesfully mastered the Pupusa and cortido. Best thing in the world to sit down to a plate of Pupusas, hands down my favorite meal!
I'm a pupusa lover. i made
I'm a pupusa lover. i made love to a pupusa and it was good