Pan-Fried Pupusas with Refried Beans and Cheese

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Golden pan-fried pupusas stuffed with creamy refried beans and melted cheese, served with tangy curtido for a balanced Salvadoran classic. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 35 minutes, pairs masa harina, warm water, refried beans 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Latin American cuisine 350 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups masa harina, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 1/4 cups warm water. Mix with your hands until a soft dough forms, about 3 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 8 equal balls, about 3 oz each. Flatten each ball into a 4-inch disk.
  3. Step 3: Place 2 tbsp refried beans and 2 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese in the center of each disk, then carefully fold edges over filling and seal, reshaping into a ball.
  4. Step 4: Gently flatten each filled ball into a 5-inch thick disk, about 1/2 inch thick, ensuring the filling is enclosed.
  5. Step 5: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pupusas and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden and slightly crispy with melted cheese inside.
  6. Step 6: Remove from skillet and serve warm with 1 cup curtido on the side for a refreshing contrast.

Related recipes