Black Bean Salvadoran Tortillas (Pupusas)

These are Salvadoran stuffed tortillas. They have a strong corn taste from the masa, a ground corn flour treated with lime, and a spicy center. You can skip the bean filling and use vegan cheese in the middle, but this is a bean book, after all.

SOY-FREE, GLUTEN-FREE, OIL-FREE OPTION*

TOTAL PREP TIME: 40 minutes

TOTAL COOKING TIME: 20 minutes

YIELD: 12 pupusas

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons (28 ml) olive oil (*use water or broth)
• 1/2 onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
• 1 1/2 cups (258 g) cooked black beans or 1 can (15 oz or 425 g), rinsed and drained

FOR THE DOUGH

• 2 1/2 cups (290 g) masa
• 2 cups (475 ml) water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Salsa, store-bought or homemade, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat the oil (or water/broth) in a sauté pan and cook the minced onion until translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the minced garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and chipotle powder to the pan. Sauté for 1 minute more.
3. Add the cooked black beans to the pan. While stirring, use a wooden spoon to smash some of the beans. Cook the mixture for a few more minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C, or gas mark 4) and oil 2 sheet pans (or line them with parchment paper).
5. In a mixing bowl, combine the masa, water, and salt to make the dough. Stir until well combined.
6. Take a small piece of the dough and roll it into a ball. The dough should be pliable and not crack at the edges. If it cracks, add a little more water to the dough and mix again.
7. Divide the dough into 12 slightly bigger than golf ball–size balls (about 2 tablespoons [28 g] each). Place them on a cutting board.
8. Take one ball of dough and flatten it with your hands, keeping it thicker than a regular pie crust.
9. Place a heaping teaspoon of the bean filling in the center of the flattened dough.
10. Gently bring the edges of the dough together, forming another ball with the filling in the center.
11. Roll the ball in your hand, ensuring the dough has an even thickness surrounding the filling.
12. Lightly flatten the ball into a patty shape using your fingers, avoiding your palms to prevent sticking. Place the patty on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process for each pupusa.
13. Bake the pupusas on one side for 10 minutes, then flip them over and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
14. Serve the pupusas topped with salsa.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

PER PUPUSA

• 135.8 calories; 3.2 g total fat; 0.3 g saturated fat; 3.7 g protein; 23.3 g carbohydrate; 3.3 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol.

FUNCY BEAN SUBSTITUTES:

• Black Calypso, Purple Runner