What is a pupusa?

A pupusa is a thick flatbread from El Salvador, traditionally made with masa (a corn flour dough). It is arguably the most well-known Salvadoran dish.

Pupusas are typically filled with a combination of ingredients such as cheese (queso), cooked pork (chicharrón), refried beans (frijoles), or loroco (a vine flower bud native to Central America). The filling is enclosed inside the masa dough before being cooked on a griddle or comal.

Pupusas are usually served with curtido (a lightly fermented cabbage slaw, similar to sauerkraut) and salsa roja (a red tomato sauce). They are a popular and affordable street food in El Salvador and are also enjoyed in many other countries, especially where there are significant Salvadoran communities.