Pan-Fried Pupusas with Quesillo and Refried Beans

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-25 · Updated 2026-07-25

Golden pan-fried Salvadoran pupusas stuffed with melty quesillo cheese and savory refried beans, served with tangy curtido slaw. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs masa harina, warm water, quesillo cheese, shredded for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 quesillo cheese, shredded
• 1 cup refried beans
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 small, grated carrot
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water (for curtido)
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, mix 2 cups masa harina with 1 1/4 cups warm water and 1 tsp salt until a soft dough forms; rest for 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Combine 2 cups shredded cabbage, 1 small grated carrot, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes in a bowl to make curtido. Toss well and refrigerate.
3. Step 3: Divide masa dough into 8 equal balls. Flatten each ball into a 4-inch disc. Spoon 2 tbsp refried beans and 2 tbsp shredded quesillo cheese onto the center of each disc.
4. Step 4: Fold edges over filling and carefully flatten the stuffed dough into a 5-inch thick disc, sealing the filling inside.
5. Step 5: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry each pupusa for 4 minutes per side until golden and crispy on the outside and cheese melts inside.
6. Step 6: Serve hot pupusas with chilled curtido on the side for a traditional Salvadoran experience.