Chicharron Pupusa Recipes

PUPUSAS

Steps:

• Combine tomato sauce, water, cilantro, green bell pepper, onion, crushed garlic, bouillon cube, and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes. Let salsa roja cool for 10 minutes.
• Fill a blender halfway with the salsa roja. Cover and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Pour into a bowl. Repeat with remaining salsa roja. Return to saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes more stirring occasionally. Allow to cool completely, about 1 hour, and refrigerate.
• Place cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Add 4 cups boiling water and let stand for 5 minutes. Drain well. Mix in vinegar, scallions, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Chill curtido until serving.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until almost fully cooked and not yet crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer bacon and grease (if desired) to a food processor. Add tomatoes, quartered green bell pepper, Monterey Jack cheese, and minced garlic. Puree and season the chicharron with salt.
• Mix masa harina and 1/2 cup water together in a bowl by hand. Add the remaining water slowly, about 2 tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition, until dough is moist but still firm. Cover with a wet towel.
• Heat 1/2 cup oil a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Take a golf ball-sized piece of dough and roll into a ball in your hands. Make a hole in the dough ball with your thumb; put a small amount of chicharron inside the hole, close it up, and flatten the ball with your hands into a thick tortilla shape. Place pupusa in the skillet and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining dough and chicharron.
• Serve each pupusa topped with 2 tablespoons of curtido and 1 tablespoon of salsa roja.

PUPUSAS DE CHICHARRóN (SALVADORAN PORK-STUFFED MASA CAKES)

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil with the bay leaf. As soon as it starts boiling, turn off heat. Add cabbage and let sit for about 2 minutes. Drain.
• In a glass container, combine cabbage with rest of the ingredients. Let it sit for at least 4-6 hours before using.
• Season pork chunks with salt, pepper, cumin and garlic powder.
• Heat oil in a medium-size skillet to medium heat. Add pork chunks and cook until golden brown. Add water, cover and cook until all liquid has evaporated and pork is fully browned and crispy.
• After cooking is done, in a food processor, process pork chunks, tomatoes, onion and green peppers in batches. The consistency should be pasty and NOT too watery. This is the filling.
• In a medium bowl, combine masa harina, salt, pepper and water. Work the dough until dough is soft but still firm. You may need to adjust the water. Divide into 10 -12 balls. Set aside.
• Heat a comal or griddle over medium heat.
• In a small bowl, combine about 2 cups of water with a few drops of oil. (Yes, water and oil do not mix, but this mixture will prevent dough from sticking to your hands.)
• Wet your hands with water-oil mixture.
• Grab a ball of masa, flatten it out in your hands-very much like a thick tortilla-put a spoonful of chicharrón in the center. Bring edges of the "tortilla" to the center to "close it up" and flatten in between your palms.
• Cook each pupusa on the hot comal for about 2 minutes per side.
• Serve with curtido.

SALVADORAN PUPUSAS AS MADE BY CURLY AND HIS ABUELITA RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the curtido: In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, onion, and carrots. Pour the boiling water over the vegetables and toss. Let sit for 10 minutes, then drain.
• In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, combine the vinegar, oregano, and salt. Pour over the slaw and toss to coat. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer the curtido any any leftover liquid in the bowl to an airtight jar or container.
• Chill for at least 20 minutes in the refrigerator, or chill overnight for best results.
• Make the chicharrón: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork shoulder and salt. Cook for 15 minutes without disturbing. If the pork is browning too quickly, reduce the heat to medium. Turn the pork over and let cook on the other side for 10 minutes more, or until crispy and golden brown.
• Transfer the pork to a food processor and add the tomato, green bell pepper, and onion. Pulse until a thick paste forms. The mixture should not be watery. Set aside.
• 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.
• Fill a small bowl with water and a bit of oil and set near your work station. You'll wet your fingers with the mixture as you work to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
• Take a golf ball-sized portion of dough and roll into a ball, then flatten into an even round.
• Fill the dough round with ½ tablespoon chicharrón paste, 1 teaspoon refried beans, and 1 teaspoon mozzarella cheese. Fold the dough over the filling until it's completely sealed. Then, pat out the ball between your hands until flat. If the pupusa cracks, patch it with a bit of dough and a little oil. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Heat a large pan or griddle over medium heat. Brush with vegetable oil, then place 2-3 pupusas on the pan and cook for 2-4 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Flip and cook on the other side for 2-4 minutes more, until golden brown and warmed through. Repeat with the remaining pupusas.
• Serve the pupusas with curtido.
• Enjoy!

SALTY PAPUSAS

Steps:

• You will also need 1 cup of your filling of choice (see variations).
• 1. In a large bowl, mix together the masa harina and water and knead well.
• 2. Knead in more water, one tablespoonful at a time if needed, to make a moist, yet firm dough. (It should not crack at the edges when you press down on it.).
• 3. Cover and set aside to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• 4. Roll the dough into a log and cut it into 8 equal portions.
• 5. Roll each portion into a ball.
• 6. Press an indentation in each ball with your thumb.
• 7. Put about 1 tablespoon of desired filling into each indentation and fold the dough over to completely enclose it.
• 8. Press the ball out with your palms to form a disc, taking care that that the filling doesn't spill out.
• 9. Line a tortilla press with plastic and press out each ball to about 5 or 6 inches wide and about 1/4-inch thick. If you don't have a tortilla press, place the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and roll it out with a rolling pin.
• 10. Heat a greased skillet over medium-high flame. Cook each pupusa for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned and blistered. Remove to a plate and hold warm until all pupusas are done.
• 11. Serve with curtido and salsa roja.
• 12. VARIATIONS.
• 13. This recipe uses masa harina, a special dried cornmeal flour used in making tortillas, tamales, etc. If you are able to get fresh masa, definitely use it instead. The flavor will be much fresher. Just substitute the masa harina and water with fresh masa. One pound will make about 4 to 6 pupusas depending on size.
• 14. Pupusas de Queso: With a cheese filling. Use grated quesillo, queso fresco, farmer's cheese, mozzarella, Swiss cheese or a combination. Add some minced green chile if you like.
• 15. Pupusas de Chicharrones: With a filling of fried chopped pork and a little tomato sauce. A reasonable facsimile can be made by pulsing 1 cup of cooked bacon with a little bit of tomato sauce in a food processor.
• 16. Pupusas de Frijoles Refritos: With a refried bean filling.
• 17. Pupusas Revueltas: Use a mixture of chicharrones, cheese and refried beans.
• 18. Pupusas de Queso y Loroco: With a cheese and tropical vine flower filling. Loroco can be found in jars at many Latin markets.
• 19. Pupusas de Arroz: A variety of pupusa that uses rice flour instead of corn masa.
• 20. Other Fillings: Cooked potatoes or finely minced, sautéed jalapeño peppers are also tasty fillings. Try a mixture of different fillings.
• 21. Note: The pupusa is so fundamental to the cuisine of El Salvador that the country has even declared November 13th "National Pupusa Day.".