Pan-Fried Pupusas with Savory Cheese and Refried Beans

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 melted cheese and creamy refried beans, a classic Salvadoran comfort food. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs masa harina, warm water, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, 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 6 Latin American cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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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 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 6 equal balls (about 3.5 oz each). Flatten each ball into a 1/4-inch thick disk about 4 inches in diameter.
  3. Step 3: Place 2 tbsp refried beans and 2 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese in the center of one disk. Carefully fold the edges over the filling and reseal, then gently flatten again to form a filled disk about 1/2-inch thick.
  4. Step 4: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Cook each pupusa for 4-5 minutes per side, turning carefully with a spatula, until golden brown and crispy on the outside and the cheese is melted inside.
  5. Step 5: Transfer pupusas to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil and serve warm with curtido or salsa.

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