Salvadoran Cheese & Bean Papusas With Curtido

TO MAKE THE QUICK MASA DOUGH

Step 1

In a mixing bowl, combine masa harina, flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk to incorporate. Drizzle lard evenly over dry ingredients and whisk again util mixture forms pea-sized balls.

Step 2

Scrape dough from whisk. Add water and, using a wooden spoon, mix to thoroughly combine. Scrape dough from spoon and, using your hands, knead dough briefly, just until it comes together in a smooth ball, about 2 minutes.

Step 3

Cover bowl with a towel and let rest for 15 minutes before proceeding.

TO MAKE THE PERFECT REFRIED BEANS

Step 4

In a large pot, cover the beans with cold water by at least 2 inches.

Step 5

Add herb sprigs, the whole onion half, and garlic cloves and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until beans are very tender, about 1 to 2 hours. Season with salt. Drain beans, reserving bean-cooking liquid. You should have about 3 cups of cooked beans; if you have more, measure out 3 cups of beans and reserve the rest for another use.

Step 6

Discard herb sprigs, onion, and garlic.

Step 7

In a large skillet, heat lard, bacon drippings, or oil until shimmering, or butter until foaming, over medium-high heat.

Step 8

Add minced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and lightly golden, about 7 minutes.

Step 9

Stir in beans and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of reserved bean-cooking liquid. Using bean masher, potato masher, or back of a wooden spoon, smash the beans to form a chunky purée; alternatively, use a stick blender to make a smoother purée.

Step 10

Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring, until desired consistency is reached; if refried beans are too dry, add more bean-cooking liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Season with salt.

TO MAKE THE QUICK CURTIDO

Step 11

In a large bowl, toss together cabbage, onion, carrot, and jalapeño, if using.

Step 12

In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, salt, and sugar a cook over medium heat, stirring, until salt and sugar are just dissolved.

Step 13

Pour brine over vegetables and toss to combine.

Step 14

Cover and refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Step 15

*NOTE 1: Epazote, a Mexican herb, can be found at Mexican grocers. To add other flavors to the refried beans, try sautéing a pinch of ground cumin or fresh chilis with the minced onion, or puréeing toasted dried chilis into the mixture*

PAPUSAS - HOW TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Step 16

With lightly oiled hands, form the dough into 2-3 inch diameter balls.

Step 17

Using your thumb, make an indentation into one of the balls, forming a small cup.

Step 18

Fill the cup with 1-1 1/2 tablespoons of the refried beans and top it with about ½ tablespoon of the shredded cheese.

Step 19

Wrap the dough around the filling to seal it, making sure that the filling does not leak.

Step 20

Pat the dough back and forth between your hands to flatten and form it into a round disk about 1/4-inch thick. Repeat with the remaining dough balls.

Step 21

After all the papusas have been formed, lightly rub them with oil and place them on a heated and previously greased griddle over medium heat.

Step 22

Cook the papusas on each side until golden brown in spots and slightly puffy and cooked through, about 3 – 4 minutes per side.

Step 23

Serve papusas while still warm with a side of the curtido, hot sauce and lime. Make sure to squirt that lime over the papusas while eating them. Enjoy!