Pupusas are the favorite traditional food of El Salvadorans. When visiting El Salvador you will find them anywhere. They love them so much that they came up with a day to celebrate them. National Day of Pupusas is a huge food festival that takes place all over the country.

It happens every second Sunday of November. In 2022 it will happen on November 13th. You are still on time to get there, here is what you will be able to enjoy if you decide to visit.

All About National Pupusa Day

Pupusas have been a big part of the country’s culture since pre-Columbian times. Mayans already had a very similar dish almost a thousand years ago. In 2005 pupusas were named the national dish of El Salvador and you can enjoy it with one of the many exotic fruits El Salvador has to offer.

Fun Fact: The largest pupusa ever made was 33 feet wide and weighed around 200 pounds in 2007.

What are Pupusas?

Salvadoran pupusas are thick, hand-made corn tortilla, it can be stuffed with cheese (queso – usually a soft Salvadoran cheese called Quesillo), fried pork rind (chicharrones), chicken (pollo), refried beans (frijoles refritos), or queso con loroco (loroco is a vine flower bud from Central America).

Those are the traditional ingredients but stuff like mushrooms, herbs, bacon, and other vegetables are also used in fancier eateries. If you are brave you can also taste a sweet one.

It is usually served with curtido (a type of spicy coleslaw), and a tomato sauce. I know it sounds simple but these guys are extremely tasty and filling. You won’t need to add anything else to your plate.

Check out this article to find the recipe on how to prepare pupusas.

Fun Activities of National Day of Pupusas

There are tons of activities happening, but there are a few that stand out and you won’t want to miss.

Pupusa eating contest – These happen in tons of neighborhoods all over the country to decide on who can eat more in the least amount of time.

Go out to a pupusa eatery – This day pretty much every El Salvador restaurant will serve pupusas so go and get some and dare to try the weird kinds.

Making huge Pupusas – Some towns set themselves the challenge of surpassing the world record of the largest pupusa. No one has since 2007. But I’m sure they will try again this year.

This is also a time to experiment. Most pupusodromos (buildings where a lot of pupusa eateries are grouped) will be open to creating all-new sorts of pupusas. They will have a ton of ingredients for you to mix. You might invent the new best kind of pupusa!

This is definitely the best time for foodies to be in El Salvador. What do you think? Will you visit next year?

To learn more about festivals and celebrations in the country take a look at this article all about Holy week in El Salvador, you can also consider visiting the country during the colorful Carnaval de San Miguel.

So when are you coming to El Salvador?

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