FreeSalvadoranCentral AmericanPupusaStuffed BreadGriddleVegetarian

Smoked Pupusas de Frijol con Queso (Home Smoker)

Name: Smoked Pupusas de Frijol con Queso (Home Smoker)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: salvadoran
Ingredients: 2 cups Masa harina; 1.25 cups Warm water; 0.5 tsp Fine sea salt; 1 cup Refried black beans, very thick; 6 oz Quesillo, shredded; 1 tbsp Neutral oil

Refried black bean and quesillo pupusas griddled inside the smoker. Creamy beans, melty cheese, lightly smoked masa. A weeknight-friendly Salvadoran classic.

425°F40 minServes 4Pecan

Ingredients

4servings

2 cupsMasa harina
1.3 cupsWarm water
0.5 tspFine sea salt
1 cupRefried black beans, very thick— Reduce until paste-stiff
6 ozQuesillo, shredded
1 tbspNeutral oil

Method

Prep

1.Stiffen the beans

5 min

Reduce refried beans in a dry skillet over medium heat until thick enough to scoop into a ball — about 5 minutes. Cool slightly.

Why it matters

Loose beans will blow the masa seam during cooking.

Common mistake

Using beans straight from the can.

2.Make the masa

25 min

Mix masa harina, salt, and warm water until soft and pliable. Rest 20 minutes covered.

Why it matters

Rest hydrates the corn fully so the dough does not crack.

Common mistake

Skipping the rest.

Smoker Setup

3.Preheat smoker with griddle

425°F15 min

Pellet grill at 425°F with a cast-iron griddle on the grates. Preheat 15 minutes.

Why it matters

Hot iron creates instant crust and locks in cheese.

Common mistake

Cold griddle = soggy pupusas.

Prep

4.Form and fill

15 min

Divide dough into 8 balls. Press each into a disc. Layer a spoon of beans and a pinch of cheese in the center. Fold, pinch shut, flatten to 4 inches.

Why it matters

Bean-then-cheese order keeps the dough from tearing.

Common mistake

Putting wet beans against the seam.

Smoke

5.Griddle on the smoker

425°F8 min

Oil the griddle lightly. Cook 3–4 minutes per side until leopard-spotted and hollow-sounding.

Why it matters

Lid-closed cooking layers pecan smoke into the corn.

Common mistake

Pressing down — it pops the seam.

Serve

6.Rest and serve

2 min

Rest 2 minutes. Serve with curtido and salsa roja.

Why it matters

Lets the cheese set so it does not run out.

Common mistake

Cutting in too fast.

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