Authentic Salvadoran Pupusas
Pillowy masa flatbreads stuffed with melty cheese, refried beans, and chicharrón, griddled until golden and blistered, then piled with tangy curtido.
Prep
25 min
Cook
20 min
Total
45 min
Makes
8 pupusas
Why you'll love this recipe
Pupusas are the ultimate Salvadoran comfort food — and far easier to make at home than you'd think. With just masa harina, water, and your favorite fillings, you can have a stack of warm, cheese-stuffed pupusas on the table in under an hour.
What you'll need
The dough is just masa harina, warm water, and salt. For the most authentic flavor, use quesillo (a soft Central American cheese), but mozzarella works beautifully too.
Authentic Salvadoran Pupusas
45 min · 8 pupusas
Ingredients
Servings
8 pupusas
- 2 cups masa harina
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups shredded quesillo or mozzarella
- ½ cup refried red beans
- ½ cup cooked chicharrón, finely ground
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Make the masa. Mix masa harina, salt, and warm water until a soft, smooth dough forms — it should feel like play-dough. Rest 10 minutes.
- Prepare the filling. Combine the cheese, refried beans, and ground chicharrón in a bowl.
- Stuff and shape. Roll a golf-ball of masa, press into your palm, add a spoonful of filling, seal it inside, then gently pat into a 4-inch disc.
- Griddle. Cook on a lightly oiled griddle over medium heat 3–4 minutes per side until golden and blistered. Serve hot with curtido and salsa roja.
Nutrition (per serving)
285
Calories
11g
Protein
32g
Carbs
13g
Fat
Frequently asked questions
- What are pupusas made of?
- Masa harina dough stuffed with fillings like cheese, refried beans, and chicharrón, then griddled until golden.
- Can I make pupusas ahead of time?
- Yes — shape them, then refrigerate up to 24 hours or freeze up to 3 months. Griddle straight from frozen, adding a couple minutes per side.
- What is curtido?
- A lightly fermented Salvadoran cabbage slaw with carrots, onion, oregano, and vinegar, served on top of pupusas.