Spiced Beef Pupusas with Curtido Slaw

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Handmade Salvadoran pupusas stuffed with spiced ground beef, served with tangy curtido cabbage slaw for a satisfying meal. This latin american-inspired beef ready in about 50 minutes pairs masa harina, warm water, ground beef for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 430 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 lb ground beef
• 1/2 small, finely chopped yellow onion
• 1 clove, minced garlic clove
• 1 tsp ground achiote (annatto) powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp, divided salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 3 cups shredded, for curtido cabbage
• 1 medium, shredded carrot
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup water (for curtido)
• 1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Add 1/2 small finely chopped yellow onion and 1 minced garlic clove, sautéing for 2 minutes until translucent.
2. Step 2: Add 1/2 lb ground beef, 1 tsp ground achiote powder, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, for 7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Step 3: In a bowl, combine 2 cups masa harina with 1 1/4 cups warm water and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix with your hands until a soft, pliable dough forms, about 3 minutes.
4. Step 4: Divide dough into 8 equal balls (about 3 oz each). Flatten each ball into a 4-inch disc, place about 2 tbsp of the cooked beef mixture in the center, then fold and seal the dough around the filling, reshaping into discs.
5. Step 5: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook each pupusa for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown spots appear and the dough is cooked through.
6. Step 6: Meanwhile, prepare curtido by mixing 3 cups shredded cabbage, 1 shredded medium carrot, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes in a bowl. Let sit for at least 20 minutes to pickle slightly.
7. Step 7: Serve the hot pupusas topped or sided with curtido slaw for a traditional Salvadoran experience.