Best Black Bean Pupusas Recipes

BEAN AND CHEESE PUPUSAS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the curtido: In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, onion, carrots, and serrano, if using. Pour the boiling water over the vegetables and toss to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes, then drain.
• In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the vinegar, oregano, and salt.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the slaw and toss to coat. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer the curtido and any leftover liquid in the bowl to an airtight jar or container. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes, but ideally overnight. The curtido will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Make the refried black beans: Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Add the oil to the pan. Once hot, add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant and softened.
• Add the black beans, along with their liquid, to the pan and increase the heat to medium. Add the salt. Mash the beans with a potato or bean masher, ensuring no beans are left whole. Cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the beans don't immediately flood the pan when you drag a spatula across the bottom. If you prefer a perfectly smooth consistency, use an immersion blender to purée the beans in the pan, or transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Season with more salt to taste, then set aside to cool completely before making the pupusa dough.
• Make the pupusa dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the masa harina and salt, then add the water. Use your hands to mix until the dough comes together with a clay-like texture; it should be elastic and not sticky. You may need to knead it for a few minutes.
• Assemble the pupusas: Once the beans have cooled completely, fold in the mozzarella cheese.
• Fill a small bowl with water and set it near your work station. Wet your hands as you work to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
• Heat a large pan or griddle over medium-high heat for at least 5 minutes.
• While the pan heats, form the pupusas: Take a large, golf ball-sized portion (about 3½ ounces) of dough and roll into a ball, then flatten into an even round, using the fingers of your dominant hand to press the dough against the palm of your non-dominant hand (rather than smashing your palms together), about 5 inches in diameter.
• Fill the dough round with about 3 tablespoons of the bean mixture, or slightly less than the amount of masa used to make the disc. Gently fold 2 sides of the dough over the filling, then rotate and fold up the other 2 sides until the filling is completely encased. Pinch off any excess dough overlapping at the top and return to the remaining masa. Then, carefully pat out the ball between your hands into a roughly 4-inch disc. If the filling breaks through, patch it with a tiny bit of dough. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Lightly brush the hot pan with the vegetable oil, then place 4-5 pupusas (or as many as will fit without touching) in the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on thickness, until the bottoms are golden brown. Flip and cook on the other side for 3-5 minutes more, until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining pupusas.
• Serve the pupusas with the curtido.
• Enjoy!

EL SALVADORIAN BEAN AND CHEESE PUPUSAS

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, combine refried beans and cheese. Set aside.
• In a separate mixing bowl, combine 2 cups Masa with 1 ¼ cups water and ¼ tsp salt, mixing thoroughly until it is a soft dough (this dough dries out fast- hence the divided measurements. But if it starts to dry out while you are still working, you can add a touch more water as needed).
• Pinch a bit of dough off and roll it into a ball about 2 inches in diameter (about the size of a golf ball). Using your thumb, push down on the ball to make more of a "bowl". Place a spoonful of the bean and cheese mixture into the "bowl".
• Pinch off and flatten a bit more dough to cover the bowl with. Carefully flatten the filled ball to make a disc, making an effort to make it as thinly as possible- about 1/2 inch thick. This takes a lot of practice!
• Pour 1/4 cup of oil into a nonstick skillet and place as many pupusas as will fit, and cook over medium / medium- high heat for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until golden and browned. Repeat with the next batch, adding more oil if necessary. When the masa dough has run out, make another fresh batch.
• Serve with warmed tomato sauce and curtido.