HOW TO MAKE PUPUSAS🇸🇻 STEP BY STEP -THE AUTHENTIC SALVADORAN RECIPE!

masa harina

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: corn flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber while corn flour is more economical.

pork

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: ground turkey

Chicken is leaner and ground turkey is often less expensive.

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Nutritional yeast offers a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

refried beans

🥗Healthier: black beans

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Black beans are nutritious and canned beans save time.

Cut 1.5 pounds of pork into pieces.

Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or juice of 1 lemon to the pork.

Fry the pork in pork lard or vegetable oil with 3 cloves of garlic for about 20 minutes until browned.

Add salt to the pork and cook for another minute until desired golden brown color is reached.

Do not discard the pork lard; it will be used later.

Grind the cooked pork with the vegetables in a food grinder or food processor until desired texture is achieved.

Fry the ground pork again for 5 minutes without adding grease.

For the beans, use about 1 pound of precooked beans and blend with half an onion, avoiding too much water.

Fry the blended beans in the pork lard for about 10 minutes until they reach a play-dough-like texture.

To make the salsa, boil tomatoes until soft and the skin breaks, then blend with salt and a pinch of dry oregano.

Boil the blended salsa again until done.

For the curtido, boil 1 liter of water and add shredded cabbage, shredded carrot, and chopped onion. Let it sit for about 10 seconds, then add salt, vinegar, and oregano, and mix well.

For the cheese, use Quesillo, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack, mixing until a play-dough consistency is reached (microwave for about 10 seconds if needed).

For the dough, mix masa harina with room-temperature water until a play-dough consistency is achieved.

To form the pupusas, grab a small amount of masa, shape it into a circle, and make a hole with three fingers.

Add the chicharrón, beans, and cheese into the hole, then carefully close the pupusa and remove any excess dough.

Flatten the pupusa, wetting hands with oil or water to prevent sticking.

If the pupusa breaks, add more masa to cover it up and flatten again.

Heat oil in a comal or plancha and cook the pupusas for about 3 to 5 minutes, flipping when the sides start to brown and firm up.

Repeat the process to make more pupusas, varying fillings as desired (cheese, beans, chicharrón).

Mark the pupusas to differentiate fillings if desired.

Serve with salsa and curtido.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens