El Salvador Recipes are a style of cooking derived from the nation of El Salvador. The traditional foods consist of a mix of Native American cuisine from the indigenous groups Lenca, Pipil, Xinca , Poqomam, Maya Chʼortiʼ, Alaguilac, Mixe, Mangue, and Cacaopera; with later influences from Spanish cuisine after the Conquest of El Salvador. Many of the dishes are made with maize (corn). There is also heavy use of pork and seafood.
El Salvador Recipes notable dish is the pupusa, thick handmade corn flour or rice flour flatbread stuffed with cheese, chicharrón (cooked pork meat ground to a paste consistency), refried beans or loroco (a vine flower bud native to Central America). There are also vegetarian options, often with ayote (a type of squash) or garlic.
Some restaurants even offer pupusas stuffed with shrimp or spinach which are served with salsa roja, a cooked tomato sauce, often served with curtido. Pollo encebollado is another popular Salvadoran dish that contains chicken simmered with onions. Salvadoran cheeses, queso duro (hard cheese), queso fresco (fresh cheese), and cuajada, are eaten with meals.
Two other typical El Salvador Recipes are yuca frita and panes rellenos. Yuca frita is deep-fried cassava root served with curtido (a pickled cabbage, onion and carrot topping) and chicharron with pepesca (fried baby sardines). The yuca is sometimes served boiled instead of fried. Panes rellenos (“stuffed bread”) are warm submarine sandwiches.
The turkey or chicken is marinated and then roasted with Pipil spices and hand-pulled. This sandwich is traditionally served with turkey or chicken, tomato, and watercress along with cucumber, cabbage, and traditional stuffed panes that do not include mayonnaise.
Other well-known El Salvador Recipes include Carne Guisada (saucy beef with potatoes and carrots), Lomo Entomatado (beef with tomatoes), carne asada (grilled steak, usually served with a type of Salvadoran salsa called chimol), pasteles de Carne (meat pies), Pollo Guisado con Hongos (chicken with mushrooms), Pacaya planta (palm flowers breaded in cornmeal, fried and served with tomato sauce), Pavo Salvadoreño (roast turkey with sauce, often eaten for Christmas), Ceviche de Camarones (lime-cooked shrimp), and Pescado Empanizado (breaded, fried fish fillets). Salvadorean Chorizo is short, fresh (not dried), and tied into twin sausages. (1)
1. El Salvador Recipes – Shrimp Soup
Shrimp Soup
This hearty and robust Salvadoran Shrimp Soup is comfort food at its best. Recipe and Photos from She Paused 4 Thought
Crispy on the outside, soft and cheesy on the inside, homemade pupusas are stuffed tortillas or filled corn cakes that are widely popular in El Salvador and Honduras. Recipe and Photos from Curious Cuisiniere
There’s some kind of inexplicable magic going on between the caramelized onions and the white wine as it bubbles around the chicken thighs. So If you like tender chicken, the kind that melts in your mouth loaded with flavor chicken, then this chicken in white wine recipe is for you. Because it simmers away for quite some time, I hit it with a nice squeeze of lime at the end, and make sure to have plenty of crusty bread to go around for soaking up that white wine sauce. Recipe and Photos from Ciao Florentina
Get fired up for El Salvador Recipes like the countries Roast Turkey. My husband is half Mexican and half El Salvadoran. That means I get fed REALLY WELL when I’m with his family. And while you may think that each country’s food is the same, that is not the case. Both are so delicious and both so unique. Mexican food is like super-delicious party food. Flavor-bursting, crunchy, creamy food. El Salvadoran food is more like serious, at-home comfort food. Recipe and Photos from Olive and Artisan
El Salvador Recipes make up a traditional cuisine that consists of food from Native American cuisine, indigenous Lenca, Pipil and European Spanish peoples. Many of the dishes are made with maize (corn), like tamales pisques. Recipe and Photos from 196 Flavors
Now that you are checking out the 15 Best El Salvador Recipes and Traditional Meals, what’s next? Let’s learn more about Surrounding Country’s Top Recipes.
A staple of Salvadoran cuisine, a steak dish as delicious as you will find, classic and easy for a busy night. All true! Recipe and Photos from Cooking On The Weekends
9. El Salvador Recipes – Salvadoran Stuffed Masa Cakes
Salvadoran Stuffed Masa Cakes
In El Salvador, these satisfying little corn snacks are made with Quesillo, but many Salvadorans in the United States substitute Mozzarella, as we've done here. Cheese on its own is a popular pupusa filling, but we particularly like this hearty revuelta (mixture) that includes red beans and salty, crisp-fried pork rind. Recipe and Photos from Epicurious
In Central America, Curtido is often served with pupusas (corn cakes) and Salsa Roja. You could also serve Curtido with cheese enchiladas, fish tacos, tamales, or any other food you might serve with coleslaw! Recipe and Photos from Tastes Better From Scratch
Don't get this savory acidic veggie El Salvador Recipes side dish confused with Mexican pico de gallo. It can be accompanied with pupusas, empanadas, fried yuca, or with a meal of grilled meat (any kind) with rice. It basically goes with any lunch or dinner entree your taste buds desire. Recipe and Photos from Spark People
12. El Salvador Recipes – Salvadoran Red Bean Soup
Salvadoran Red Bean Soup
Although other beans are utilized, kidney beans are quite popular for soups and other preparations in El Salvador. This soup will convince anyone with the rich flavor. It’s as easy to make as it is tasty! Recipe and Photos from VV Supremo
Unlike Mexican enchiladas, Salvadoran enchiladas feature crisp fresh ingredients layered over thick, warm tortillas and refried beans. I’ve seen a lot of versions with meat but my favorite bits are always the vegetables and the egg on top so I went with a lighter version. Recipe and Photos from Coconut and Lime
Casamiento Salvadoreño is the Salvadorian version of the ever-popular combination of rice and beans. As you may already know, this dish has different names depending on the country of origin. It makes an excellent breakfast dish when paired with scrambled eggs with onions and red peppers. It goes great with fried ripe plantains, cheese, crema, tortillas or bread. It can also be served for dinner but without the eggs. Try this classic combination! Recipe and Photos from Quericavida
Why does food always taste better when you cook and eat it outside? This meal is scrumptious, and the location a little beyond my dreams. What a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. It feels like a scene straight from the pages of Bon Appétit magazine! Recipe and Photos from Infinite Taste
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