After years of flying under the radar, pupusas have finally begun to make their mark as a popular Latin food outside of the borders of its Central American origin. So, what is this food, and where does it come from? Let’s learn a little more!
Pupusas are a hallmark food from the Central American country of El Salvador, where they are considered an everyday staple for many people. Similar to the better-known South American dish called “arepas,” pupusas are made with a base of corn flour and made on top of a griddle.
This dish dates back to pre-Colombian days, as it was a common food prepared by the Pipil tribes that natively inhabited what is now El Salvador.
However, pupusas are unique in their own right in terms of the ingredients used to make them and the way that they are served. Made with a slightly different nixtamlized corn flour and flatter than arepas, pupusas are generally filled with ingredients prior to their cooking.
Cheeses, beans, ground pork, and the buds from a native plant from the region known as “loroco” are common ingredients used to stuff pupusas.
Served with pickled onion for topping and tomato sauce for dipping, pupusas are truly a flavor explosion that must be tried at the first chance you get!
¡Que aproveche! (Enjoy!)
