Pan-Fried Pupusas with Savory Pork and Cheese Filling

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

Thick corn masa patties stuffed with seasoned pork and melted cheese, pan-fried to a golden crust and traditionally served with tangy curtido. This Latin American-inspired street-food recipe, ready in about 45 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 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
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup ground pork
• 1/4 cup finely chopped white onion
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded quesillo or mozzarella cheese
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups masa harina, 1/2 tsp salt, and slowly add 1 1/4 cups warm water, mixing with your hands until a soft, pliable dough forms, about 3-4 minutes; cover and rest for 15 minutes.
2. Step 2: In a skillet over medium heat, cook 1 cup ground pork with 1/4 cup finely chopped white onion, 1/4 tsp dried oregano, and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, stirring until pork is cooked through and fragrant, about 6 minutes; let cool slightly.
3. Step 3: Divide the masa dough into 8 equal balls, flatten each into a 4-inch disc. Spoon 2 tbsp of the pork mixture and 2 tbsp shredded quesillo cheese in the center, then fold the dough edges around the filling and gently flatten again into a 5-inch thick patty.
4. Step 4: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Fry each pupusa for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy on the outside while the cheese inside melts.
5. Step 5: Serve immediately with curtido or your favorite tangy cabbage slaw.