Homemade Pupusas with Red Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 cup masa harina
• 1.5 cup warm water (for the masa)
• 0.5 tsp salt (for the masa)
• 4 tomatoes
• 1 guajillo pepper (de-seeded and toasted)
• 0.25 onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp Mexican oregano
• 1 tsp salt (for the sauce)
• 0.5 packet chicken bouillon
• 1 cup refried beans (for filling; quantity estimated)
• 1 cup shredded cheese (for filling; quantity estimated)
• vegetable oil (for frying the sauce and pupusas)

Steps

1. 1

   Place 4 tomatoes in a pot of boiling water and cook for about 6 minutes until they are nice and soft.

2. 2

   While the tomatoes boil, de-seed one guajillo pepper and toast it in a dry pan until fragrant.

3. 3

   Soak the toasted guajillo pepper in some of the hot tomato boiling water for about 10 minutes to rehydrate.

4. 4

   In a blender, combine the boiled tomatoes, rehydrated guajillo pepper, 1/4 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp Mexican oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 packet of chicken bouillon. Blend until smooth.

5. 5

   Heat a little oil in a skillet and pour in the blended sauce. Cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, then set aside.

6. 6

   In a large bowl, combine 2 cups masa harina, 1.5 cups warm water, and 1/2 tsp salt.

7. 7

   Knead the masa mixture for about 3 minutes until it forms a smooth, cohesive ball.

8. 8

   Cover the masa with a damp cloth to prevent it from drying out while you work.

9. 9

   Take a portion of masa, flatten it into a disc, and place a spoonful of beans and cheese in the center.

10. 10

    Fold the edges of the masa over the filling to seal it, then gently flatten it back into a thick tortilla shape.

11. 11

    Cook the pupusas on a hot, lightly oiled skillet or griddle until golden brown and crispy on both sides and the cheese is melted.

12. 12

    Serve the warm pupusas with the prepared red sauce.

Notes

Keep your masa covered with a damp cloth while assembling to ensure it doesn't dry out and crack. You can adjust the spice level of the sauce by adding more guajillo or a spicier pepper like arbol.

Nutrition per serving

• pupusas
• snack
• main
• Salvadoran
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
• griddled