Pan-Fried Pupusas with Refried Black Beans and Fresh Curtido

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-10 · Updated 2026-05-10

Corn masa patties stuffed with seasoned cheese and refried black beans, pan-fried until golden, served with a tangy cabbage slaw. This latin american-inspired snacks (vegetarian) ready in about 55 minutes turns masa harina, warm water, shredded mozzarella cheese into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. 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 shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup cooked black beans
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cups, shredded green cabbage
• 1/2 cup, grated carrot
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1, minced garlic clove

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups masa harina and 1 1/4 cups warm water, mixing with your hands until a soft dough forms; cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
2. Step 2: Meanwhile, prepare curtido by mixing 2 cups shredded green cabbage, 1/2 cup grated carrot, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp dried oregano in a bowl; let it marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
3. Step 3: To prepare refried black beans, heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat; add 1 minced garlic clove and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add 1 cup cooked black beans and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; mash and cook for 5 minutes until thickened.
4. Step 4: Divide the masa dough into 8 equal balls; flatten each into a 4-inch disc, place 2 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 tbsp refried black beans in the center, then fold and seal the dough around the filling, shaping back into discs.
5. Step 5: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook each pupusa for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and slightly crispy on the edges.
6. Step 6: Serve the warm pupusas topped with fresh curtido and enjoy the contrast of creamy cheese, savory beans, and tangy cabbage.