Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran rice pupusas with red beans, queso duro blando, and roasted pineapple chirmol
An original Salvadoran-inspired recipe: pupusas made with soft, lightly crisp rice dough, filled with seasoned red beans and queso duro blando, served with a sweet-savory roasted pineapple chirmol with tomato and mint. It brings together traditional Salvadoran flavors with a fresh homemade twist.
Ingredients
- 240 g rice flour (for the dough)
- 360 ml warm water (approx., for the dough)
- 6 g salt (divided entre dough and frijoles)
- 30 ml vegetable oil (divided, for frijoles and cocción)
- 200 g cooked red beans (escurridos)
- 100 g white onion (finely chopped, divided)
- 6 g garlic (chopped)
- 1 g ground cumin (for the frijoles)
- 160 g queso duro blando (grated or desmenuzado)
- 180 g fresh pineapple (diced small)
- 180 g tomato (diced small)
- 8 g fresh mint (chopped)
- 30 ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 15 g green chili (finely chopped, optional)
- 4 g sugar (for equilibrar the chirmol)
- 1 g black pepper (for the chirmol)
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. Preheat a griddle, cast-iron skillet, or comal over medium heat. If you prefer to roast the pineapple in the oven, preheat it to 400 °F / 200 °C.
- 2
2. Make the roasted pineapple chirmol: place the pineapple in a dry skillet or on a baking tray and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until the edges are golden. If using the oven, roast at 400 °F / 200 °C for 10 minutes.
- 3
3. In a bowl, combine the roasted pineapple, tomato, 30 g (about 2 tbsp) of the chopped onion, mint, lime juice, green chili, sugar, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Set aside so the flavors can meld while you make the pupusas.
- 4
4. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining onion and sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- 5
5. Add the cooked red beans, cumin, and another pinch of salt. Mash the beans in the skillet until you have a thick paste. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until the filling is fairly dry and easy to handle. Let cool for 10 minutes.
- 6
6. In a large bowl, mix the rice flour with the remaining salt. Gradually add the warm water and knead for 2 to 3 minutes until you get a soft dough that is moist but not sticky. If needed, add 1 to 2 extra tbsp water.
- 7
7. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Also divide the beans and cheese into 8 portions to make shaping easier.
- 8
8. Lightly moisten your hands with water. Form one dough ball, make a hollow in the center, and fill it with one portion of beans and one portion of queso duro blando. Seal carefully and flatten into a pupusa about 10 cm / 4 inches wide.
- 9
9. Lightly grease the griddle or skillet with the remaining vegetable oil and cook the pupusas over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until spotted golden and the cheese softens inside. Keep the surface around 350 °F / 175 °C on an electric griddle, if using one.
- 10
10. Serve the pupusas hot with the roasted pineapple chirmol on top or on the side. If you like, let the chirmol rest for 5 minutes before serving so the flavors blend better.
Chef tips
If the dough cracks while shaping, lightly wet your hands again or add one more tablespoon of water to the dough. The bean filling should be thick so it does not break the pupusa while cooking.
Substitutions
You can replace queso duro blando with low-moisture mozzarella or a firm fresh cheese. Mint can be swapped for cilantro for a more herbal profile. If you do not have red beans, use cooked black beans, though the final flavor will be different.
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 imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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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