Tuesday, November 02, 2010

VeganMoFo: Salvadorian Pupusas & Curtido

Hello fellow MoFo Travelers! Next stop on our around-the-world adventure is El Salvador! As you can just barely see, each day as the star moves, we'll leave behind a little dot where we've been before... so that by the end our big culinary escapade, we will be able to look back with a sense of satisfaction and contentment!

With the help of Viva Vegan,* I cooked up this totally wonderful meal of Pupusas, Curtido & Tomato Sauce. Mr. Vegan Eats & Treats and I really, really loved this meal.

First of all, pupusas. My new love. Where have they been all my life?? Why have I been slaving over tamales when I could be making the much-simpler-but-equally-delicious pupusa all this time? I was ignorant, but now I have seen the light. The pupusas are basically like a flat tamale, or a special fatty corn tortilla stuffed with yummy spicy black beans. Mmmmm. They're hearty and substantive, and perfectly balanced by the light acidity of the tomato sauce and the curtido. Curtido is like a mildly spicy, vinegary cabbage slaw and it is very, very good. I will definitely make these tasty babies again!

* I would just like to, once again, mention what a great cookbook Viva Vegan is (by Terry Hope Romero). I love the variety of recipes and flavors in all the different recipes she gives... and some are quite simple and others rather complicated... there's always something perfect for every mood. Plus, it's made my vegan adventures through the cuisines of Central and South America quite effortless! Thanks, Terry!

17 comments:

  1. Hello pupusa. One day I too will have Viva Vegan and fill my belly with the pupusa.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mmmmmm, pupusas!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is really bizarre because I was just thinking how I wanted to make pupusas and curtido today! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is one of the recipes I still have not tried from VV and I agree, it is the BEST cookbook, ever!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous3:39 PM

    I have never eaten a pupusa before, but now I really want to try them. I just checked out your Halloween Brunch post and your pictures look amazing. I would have been so full after being around such delicious food (especially those apple cinnamon rolls...wow)!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I had never heard of pupusas, but that meal looks perfect. And I love the little map for your MoFo theme!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've been meaning to make the pupusas since I got Viva Vegan, I love that cookbook so much I think I want to cook everything from it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ooooh, I love pupusas! Part of "el typico" in all Salvadorean restaurants nearby, and such a precious accompaniment to cabbage slaw! Viva Vegan is the best.

    ReplyDelete
  9. i love the little "amey sandiego" comic!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I bought Viva Vegan mostly for my boyfriend because he loves Latin food, but we have yet to make anything from the book - just drool over the pictures. Now that I hear yr review I guess I should re-browse through for some quick and easy recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. wow! i need to try this recipe and yes VV is da bomb!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Isn't Viva Vegan! wonderful for taking you on a tour of all these South American Countries! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks yummy! I am LOVING your MoFo theme!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love, love, love pupusas but have never tried to make them at home since there is a fantastic (and fantastically cheap) pupusa place up the street. Yours look great.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm really going to have to get Viva Vegan, as these pupusas look too good to pass up, and my boyfriend has been begging for them lately. Thanks for the tip! That tomato sauce looks very awesome

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous12:29 PM

    Yay, great so far Amey!! And I really love your balloon logo ... which could be repurposed for a steampunk-themed vegan cookzine if you wanted to do one in the future :D

    jen e.

    ReplyDelete
  17. we live on pupusas, amey! i make them all the time, sometimes fanciful, sometimes just seasoned beans, but always so good. and xgfx!! here's my tip: if you go to the co-op instead of the corner latin store, you can buy organic masa harina, so you're not buying gmo corn!

    xo
    kittee

    ReplyDelete

I love comments, they really make my day! Thanks for reading my blog! I'm sorry I had to turn on word verification and comment moderation - I was getting so many spam comments!