Basic Cheese Pupusas

A popular food in El Salvador. A thick corn tortilla filled with cheese and easy to customize. Serve topped with curtido (picked cabbage) or eat plain. My ex-boyfriend's Salvadorean mother's recipe!


Recipes · Everyday Cooking · Vegetarian


Prep Time: 40 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 8 hrs 57 mins
Additional Time: 8 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 pupusas

Ingredients

Ingredients List
  • 2 cups shredded green cabbage

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar

  • ½ cup water, or more as needed

  • ½ onion, thinly sliced

  • 1 carrot, grated

  • ¼ teaspoon ground oregano

  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • salt to taste


Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cabbage and cook uncovered until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain.

  2. Mix cabbage, apple cider vinegar, water, onion, carrot, oregano, red pepper flakes, and 1 pinch salt together in a large bowl. Refrigerate until flavors combine, 8 hours to overnight.

  3. Combine masa harina, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a large bowl; knead until a smooth, moist dough forms. Add water if dough cracks when you press down on it. Let dough rest, 5 to 10 minutes.

  4. Stir ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, heavy cream, and scallion together in a bowl to make a paste.

  5. Divide dough into 8 balls. Press your thumb into the center of each ball to form an indentation. Fill indentations with ricotta cheese paste. Pinch edges together around the filling; flatten and smooth into round 1/4 inch-thick patties between your palms.

  6. Grease a skillet with cooking spray; preheat over medium heat. Cook pupusas in batches until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

  7. Drain cabbage mixture and serve alongside pupusas.

Cook's Note:

Substitute farmer cheese for the mozzarella cheese if desired.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrition Facts
197 Calories
4g Fat
39g Carbs
5g Protein


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