Pupusas are a salvadoran street food eaten with curtido and salsa roja. They are thick tortillas, also described as griddle cakes, filled with refried beans, cheese, and/or meat. They are made from masa harina, a special type of corn flour that can be found in stores that sell Hispanic foods. These are crunchy on the outside, and gooey from the melted cheese on the inside. They are a savory and satisfying snack or meal.
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Masa harina is a flour made of corn, use to make pupusas, tortillas, tamales and other foods common in Latin America. It is different than cornmeal, because the corn is soaked and cooked in an alkali solution before being made into flour. This makes the vitamin, niacin, more bio-available, and also makes the flour easier to cook with. You can find masa harina at markets that specialize in Latin American foods.
If you want to substitute cornmeal for masa harina, feel free to do that. Just know that the texture and flavor will be different from the traditional version, and it will not be as easy to mold into a dough ball or patty. Use finely ground cornmeal, and fry on a lower heat so that the cornmeal is cooked all the way through without burning on the outside.