Ingredients:
Pupusas are what brought my family and me together when I was younger and are still my favorite Salvadorian dish.
Pupusas:
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 small onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 medium green pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 small tomato, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups instant masa harina
- 6 cups water
1/2 pound low fat mozzarella cheese, grated
Curtido:
- 1 medium head cabbage, chopped
- 2 small carrots, grated
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
Preparation:
Pupusas: Heat oil in a large nonstick pan. Add chicken and sauté until chicken turns white. Constantly stir the chicken to make sure it is evenly cooked. Add onion, garlic, green pepper, tomato and salt, and mix well. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is cooked through, to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove the pan from the stove. Put the mixture in a bowl and cool in the refrigerator. While the chicken mixture is cooling, place the corn flour in a large mixing bowl and gradually stir in enough water to make a stiff tortilla-like dough. When the chicken mixture has cooled, mix in the cheese. Divide the dough into 24 portions. With your hands, roll the dough into balls. Press a hole in each ball with your thumb. Put about a tablespoon of the chicken mixture into the hole formed in each ball. Fold the dough over to completely enclose it. Press the ball out with your palms to form a disc. On a very hot iron skillet, cook the pupusas on each side until golden brown. Serve hot with curtido Salvadoreño. Curtido: Blanch the chopped cabbage in boiling water for 1 minute. Discard the water. Place the cabbage in a large bowl and add the grated carrots, sliced onion, red pepper flakes, oregano, olive oil, salt, brown sugar, vinegar and water. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve with pupusas revueltas or as a side for other dishes. Serves 12.
