Pupusa

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A traditional dish from Central America is made from a thick corn masa base that is filled with an assortment of ingredients, such as cheese, beans, or meats
2. A type of food originating in Central America, consisting of a thick corn dough that is typically stuffed with various fillings including vegetables, cheese, or protein
3. This culinary creation from Central America features a corn masa shell, usually filled with a mix of cheese, meat, or beans, enjoyed as a hearty meal

Etymology: The Pupusa takes its name from Pipil, the language of the Indigenous Nahua people of El Salvador and neighboring parts of Central America. In Pipil, "pupusawa" meant "swollen," a fitting description of the thick, round corn cakes once puffed up over a fire before being stuffed. The Spanish borrowed the name as "pupusa," and English adopted that form for the dish. The name thus describes the shape and making of the food rather than its fillings. The cheese, beans, or meat inside are secondary to the swelling of the masa itself, which is why the word points to the pocket that forms when the dough is pressed around its contents.