Griddled Corn Masa Pupusas with Refried Red Beans

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

Soft corn masa pupusas stuffed with seasoned refried red beans, lightly griddled until golden and served with tangy curtido slaw. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs masa harina, warm water, refried red beans for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups masa harina
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1 cup refried red beans
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1/4 cup shredded carrot
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• a pinch red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt (for curtido)

The griddle we’d cook this on → Best Griddles for 2026: Stovetop and Electric Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups masa harina, 1/2 tsp salt, and gradually add 1 1/4 cups warm water, mixing with your hands until a soft, pliable dough forms, about 3-4 minutes; cover with a damp towel.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, mix 1 cup shredded cabbage, 1/4 cup shredded carrot, 2 tbsp white vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 tsp dried oregano, a pinch of red pepper flakes, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp salt to create curtido; let sit while preparing pupusas.
3. Step 3: Divide the masa dough into 8 equal balls (about 3 oz each). Flatten each ball into a 4-inch disk with your palms, place 2 tbsp refried red beans in the center, then fold the edges over and gently flatten again to seal the beans inside.
4. Step 4: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and brush with 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Cook each pupusa for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown spots appear and the masa is cooked through, pressing lightly to ensure even contact.
5. Step 5: Serve the warm pupusas immediately with the tangy curtido slaw on the side for a balanced, traditional Salvadoran meal.