Pupusas are a popular Central American dish made from corn-based dough and filled with beans, meat or cheese. They are similar to tortillas but thicker and fluffier. They are typically served with curtido or salsa roja and are a common street food in areas with high numbers of Salvadoran immigrants.
Pupusas are handmade pieces of flatbread made from corn-based dough and are lightly fried. They can be filled with beans, meat or cheese and are popular in Central American cuisine, especially in El Salvador. However, variations can also be found in neighboring Guatemala and Honduras. Pupusas are similar to corn tortillas or corn pancakes, but thicker and fluffier.
The main ingredient in pupusas is corn masa, a finely ground corn that is similar to cornstarch or cornmeal and is common in Latin American markets. The masa is combined with water to form a dough, which is then kneaded, cut into portions and rolled into a ball. If filling is desired, a cook will make an indentation with his thumb in the center of each ball of dough and place cheese, meat, or other fillings in the center of each piece. The fillings are then encased in the pupusas by rolling them flat using a rolling pin.
Some basic types of pupusas include pupusas de chickarees, which are filled with fried pork and tomato sauce, as well as pupusas de frijoles refritos, which contain refried beans. In El Salvador, pupusas typically also have more diverse fillings, including shrimp and squash. Loroco, a tropical vine flower that is sold in jars in markets, is also combined with cheese for a common Salvadoran pupusa variation.
Generally pupusas are cooked on a skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. They are heated and browned on one side, then flipped and browned on the other side. The cooking time is usually short, less than four minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the pupusa.
Traditional Central American accompaniments for pupusas are typically curtido or salsa roja. Curtido is a salad of coleslaw and pickled greens similar to coleslaw or sauerkraut. It is served at room temperature and placed on top of the pupusa. Salsa roja is a tomato, garlic and pepper sauce that is served hot and often paired with curtido. Pupusas are served hot and usually eaten by hand.
Pupus can be confused with Mexican quesadillas, a thin tortilla that is filled with cheese, meat or beans and heated over a skillet, as well as chalupas, which are corn flatbreads fried and topped with ingredients after cooking. Pupas are served worldwide, particularly in areas of the United States and Canada that have high numbers of El Salvadoran immigrants. Typically, they are served as a la carte street food or bar food.
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