Pan-Fried Pupusas with Refried Beans and Quesillo

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 developed and reviewed.

Traditional Salvadoran pupusas stuffed with seasoned refried beans and melted quesillo cheese, pan-fried until golden and served with tangy curtido. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs masa harina, warm water, refried black 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
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups masa harina with 1 tsp salt. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups warm water, mixing with your hands until a soft, pliable dough forms, about 3-4 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 8 equal balls, about 2.5 oz each. Flatten one ball into a 4-inch disc using your palms.
  3. Step 3: Spoon 2 tbsp refried black beans and 2 tbsp shredded quesillo cheese onto the center of the disc. Fold the edges over the filling, resealing and gently flattening back into a 4-inch thick patty.
  4. Step 4: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place 2-3 pupusas in the skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp on the outside, pressing gently with a spatula to ensure even cooking.
  5. Step 5: Remove pupusas and drain on paper towels. Serve warm with 1 cup curtido on the side.

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