Cheese and Bean Pupusas

INGREDIENTS

2 cups masa harina (corn flour)
2/3 cup cheddar cheese (shredded or diced)
1/3 cup refried beans
Salsa
1 tsp. salt
2 cups warm water
Cooking oil ( Approx. 2 Tbsp.)

Visual example of pupusa filling quantities:

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wash your hands and preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. Shred the cheddar cheese or cut it into small pieces.
3. Open the can of refried beans and set aside.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine the masa harina and salt.
5. Put 2 cups of warm water in a bowl and slowly add the masa harina – about 1/3 of a cup at a time. After each addition of corn flour, mix with your hands to get out any lumps. After you have added all the masa harina, you should have a smooth dough. If it is too sticky to work with, add a bit more masa harina. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.
6. Divide the dough into 8-10 balls (a bit bigger than a golf ball). With your hands, form a pocket in the middle of the ball. Place one teaspoon of refried beans and one tablespoon of shredded cheese in the pupusa dough. Using the edges, cover the filling and form a ball once again. Flatten each filled ball into a thick disk shape. Each pupusa should be about 4 inches wide and less than a half inch tall.
7. Add oil to a non-stick pan or cast-iron skillet and place over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the pupusa to the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes until it starts browning. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
8. You can keep them warm in the oven until you have cooked all of them.
9. Serve with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.

SPECIAL CARROT TIPS

• Use the rest of the can of refried beans in a yummy bean dip!
  • 1 cup beans
  • ½ cup salsa
  • ½ cup sour cream or yogurt
  • ½ cup cheese
  • ½ tsp. chili powder
  • ½ tsp. cumin
  • Combine ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until cheese is melted – you can also heat it up on the stovetop or bake at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

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