Salvadoran FoodRice Pupusas with Spiced White Beans and Queso Duro Blando, served with Cucumber Slaw
An original recipe inspired by homestyle Salvadoran flavors: pupusas made with cooked ground rice dough, filled with seasoned white beans and queso duro blando, served with a fresh cabbage and cucumber slaw and homemade tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 300 g raw white rice (for cocer and moler the dough)
- 900 ml water (for cocer the arroz)
- 8 g salt (divided entre dough, frijoles and curtido)
- 250 g cooked white beans (escurridos)
- 22 ml vegetable oil (divided for frijoles and cocción)
- 80 g chopped white onion (divided)
- 9 g minced garlic (divided)
- 2 g ground cumin (for the frijoles)
- 2 g dried oregano (divided)
- 180 g grated queso duro blando (puede usarse queso fresh firme si es necesario)
- 200 g finely shredded green cabbage (for the curtido)
- 120 g thinly sliced cucumber (for the curtido)
- 60 g grated carrot (for the curtido)
- 60 ml white vinegar (for the curtido)
- 60 ml warm water (for suavizar the curtido)
- 300 g chopped ripe tomatoes (for the sauce)
- 30 g chopped green chile (without semillas if desired menos picante)
- 4 g sugar (for balancear the sauce)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Rinse the raw white rice several times. Place it in a pot with 900 ml (3 3/4 cups) water and 3 g (1/2 tsp) salt. Cook over medium heat until very tender and the water is absorbed, 18 to 20 minutes. Let it cool slightly for 10 minutes.
- 2
2. While the rice cooks, make the filling. Heat 7 ml (1/2 tbsp) vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 40 g (1/4 cup) chopped white onion and 6 g (2 cloves) minced garlic; cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the cooked white beans, ground cumin, 1 g (1/2 tsp) dried oregano, and 2 g (1/4 tsp) salt. Mash and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until a thick paste forms. Remove from the heat and cool.
- 3
3. Mix the cooled bean paste with the grated queso duro blando to make an even filling. Set aside.
- 4
4. For the slaw, combine the shredded green cabbage, thinly sliced cucumber, grated carrot, the remaining 40 g (1/4 cup) chopped white onion, white vinegar, 60 ml (1/4 cup) warm water, 2 g (1/2 tsp) salt, and 1 g (1/2 tsp) dried oregano in a bowl. Mix well, lightly squeeze with your hands, and let stand for at least 15 minutes.
- 5
5. For the sauce, heat 7 ml (1/2 tbsp) vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped ripe tomatoes, chopped green chile, the remaining 3 g (1 clove) minced garlic, sugar, and 1 g (1/4 tsp) salt. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until the tomatoes break down and the sauce thickens slightly. For a smoother texture, mash or briefly blend it.
- 6
6. Process the warm cooked rice in a food processor or grind it until it becomes a smooth, sticky dough. If needed, knead by hand for 2 to 3 minutes until uniform and easy to shape.
- 7
7. Divide the rice dough into 12 portions. With lightly moistened hands, shape one portion into a ball, make an indentation, and fill it with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the white bean and queso duro blando mixture. Seal and gently flatten into a pupusa about 1 cm (about 1/3 inch) thick.
- 8
8. Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat, about 190 °C / 375 °F surface temperature. Lightly grease with the remaining 8 ml (1/2 tbsp) vegetable oil. Cook the pupusas for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until spotted golden and heated through.
- 9
9. Serve the rice pupusas hot with the drained cucumber slaw and homemade tomato sauce on the side.
Chef tips
If the rice dough feels too sticky, moisten your hands with cold water before shaping each pupusa. The filling should be cool so the pupusas seal more easily without tearing.
Substitutions
You can replace queso duro blando with firm queso fresco or low-moisture mozzarella. If white beans are unavailable, use cooked red beans, though the flavor will change. Cucumber can be replaced with radish for a sharper slaw.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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