Want a taste of El Salvador? I’ve collected 20 of the country’s most iconic recipes, so you can make authentic dishes in your very own kitchen.
I’m talking savory, spicy, and sweet sensations, all in one convenient list.
1. Quesadilla — Cheese Cake
This typical dessert hailing from El Salvador is also enjoyed as a breakfast pastry, and it is gluten-free.
It manages to be both dense and fluffy, while remaining light. It’s a flawless harmony of sweet and savory, which is all thanks to the sugar, butter, and salty cheese. Plus, the sesame seeds lend a bit of crunch, and there are few things better than this cake with a hot cup of coffee.
2. Sopa de Res
My grandma’s canned veggie beef soup is great, and she knows what she is doing in the kitchen. However, when it comes to loading up a soup with as many vegetables as possible, the chefs of El Salvador have her beat!
Nearly 20 ingredients go into this soup, so you will be getting your fair share. Eating from a bowl of this soup is like having dinner right in the middle of a garden, and I mean that in the best possible way.
3. Tamal de Pollo
There are tons of great tamale recipes floating around out there, but this tamale is truly one of my all-time favs! That’s why I just had to include it here.
These tamales take a bit of time to make, like most tamales. However, the chicken is so incredibly tender. Plus, the outer layer of dough is soft and genuinely tasty, and the green chiles bring plenty of heat.
4. Tamales
These tamales are truly the real deal, and are not like those that slide out of a can with a yucky plop. You can throw in any filling you want, whether that’s pork, beef, chicken, or veggies.
After adding your sauce and chosen filling, you’ll wrap them up in actual corn husks. It takes a couple of hours to make these, but they’re so tasty that I promise you won’t mind.
5. Carne Asada
I don’t mean to sound like an advertisement for a restaurant, but this juicy, tender flank steak is flawlessly seasoned and grilled to complete perfection.
This dish is a winner, whether you eat it all by itself or wrap it up in a tortilla. Throw in some onions and peppers for an extra treat.
6. Pupusas – Stuffed Tortillas
These might look like simple tortillas served up alongside cabbage, but in truth, they are so much more than that.
Stuffed full of squash, jalapenos, and cheese, these tortillas are cheesy and also just a bit spicy. Each one gets topped with curtido, a slaw made with pickled cabbage, carrots, and various seasonings. They make one tremendously tasty snack.
7. Yuca con Chicharron
You’ve already enjoyed chicharróns if you’ve ever cracked open a bag of pork rinds. This recipe builds on them just a bit more.
It also comes with yuca, some salsa, and a coleslaw that Americans would recognize. The contrasting textures and flavors make this dish really sing, and it’s definitely among my top picks on this entire list.
8. Dulce de Leche Empanadas
I’ve always been crazy about warm empanadas with their rich, savory fillings and flaky crusts, so imagine my surprise when I discovered sweet empanadas! Instead of some protein like pork or beef, you’ll fill these empanadas with smooth, creamy dulce de leche.
This super sweet flavor is almost like a milky caramel, and it tastes absolutely awesome nestled inside that warm, flaky pastry.
9. Elote Loco
Elote, more often known as Mexican street corn, is a popular snack throughout Spanish-speaking countries.
The traditional recipe gets a twist in this elote loco. It still has the sweet corn in the middle, but the flavor on top is blazing HOT! This is the perfect dish for those who like things on the spicier side.
10. Horchata
I first had horchata just a couple weeks before graduating high school. My friend’s mother held a graduation dinner for her son and a few friends.
My friend’s mom was a Mexican immigrant, so the dinner was a great combination of American and Mexican cuisine. One of the drink options was horchata, which she referred to as “rice water.”
It was one of the best things I’d ever had. It was a rich, creamy, milky drink, and it featured hints of cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and almonds, and I spent weeks begging my friend to get the recipe.
Of course, he never did, but I’ve made “rice water” countless times since learning how, and it’s always just as delicious.
11. Sopa de Pescado
This one goes out to all of my seafood fans! Fish soup, or sopa de pescado, only takes around 25 minutes to make and is the perfect meal when the weather turns colder.
It’s light enough to enjoy in the summer, however. Even though it has sea bass as the main ingredient, the garlic, carrots, potatoes, kabocha squash, and cilantro bring a garden-fresh flavor that can be enjoyed year round.
12. Sancocho de Gallina
This soup, otherwise known as “hen’s stew,” combines a thin broth with a wide assortment of chunky veggies, herbs, seasonings, and a whole hen.
When I say “wide assortment,” I mean it! This stew has corn on the cob, yucca, pumpkin, leeks, carrots, potatoes, and onions! It’s super flavorful and is packed with tons of healthy vitamins, minerals, and more.
13. Yuca Frita (Yuca Fries)
Yuca fries are super similar to the French-fried variety. However, if you nail the recipe, they end up a little bit crispier, and the inside texture is smoother and creamier.
It takes about 45 minutes to make them, and the end result is an amazing snack or side dish.
14. Panes con Pavo
If you like sandwiches, I’m confident that you will love the panes con pavo. It does take some time to actually cook, so I don’t enjoy it as often as I’d prefer.
Though, I usually do have one after Thanksgiving with my leftover turkey. It has almost everything you can imagine, from lettuce and tomatoes to radishes, carrots, and gherkins. As an added bonus, it tastes awesome and is actually pretty healthy.
15. Ensalada
Did your teachers ever say you could bring a drink or snack, but not both? I always thought that was absurd and did my best to “game the system.”
I’m talking pickles and fruit cocktail, so I really wish I had known about ensalada back then. This fruit juice includes chunks of pineapples, apples, oranges, and mangos. It’s super yummy, and it’s also unbelievably filling for a juice or fruit cocktail.
16. Sopa de Pata
This soup is super delicious, but you might want to use the El Salvadoran name. Calling it “cows feet soup” might turn some people off from giving it a try.
If you leave out that detail, though, they’ll probably enjoy it. It’s very filling and brings a ton of great herbs and ingredients for a unique flavor.
17. Tres Leches Cake
Tres leches cake is a well-known and enjoyed dessert, and I couldn’t end my list without adding it.
This cake is fantastic. Truly, if you enjoy dessert and aren’t a fan of this cake, I’m just not sure what to tell you. It’s that good, seriously!
18. Pasteles
Pasteles are actually a Puerto Rican dish, but plenty of chefs in El Salvador cook them up as well.
In some ways, they’re similar to tamales, but there are several differences.
For one, you’ll use banana leaves instead of corn husks. The filling is also different, with pasteles using a chunky stew and tamales having fillings that are more solid.
One thing they definitely have in common is that they take quite a while to cook. Still, they’re super appetizing, and most people enjoy them.
19. Casamiento
All that’s needed to make the classic “rice and beans” dish El Salvador style is about six ingredients and 20 minutes.
This can be served on the side for any meal, or you can eat it all by itself!
20. Lomo Relleno
Although this dish takes some time to make, it features only five ingredients: top loin pork roast, four chorizo links, tomato sauce, shallots, and all-purpose seasoning.
If you are a big fan of meat, this would be the main course for you, no doubt!