After an early morning of dog park adventures, I came home ready to try something different for breakfast, and I rummaged through our cabinets for this…
I bought this bag of corn flour a while back to make waffles but have yet to open it…until my favorite Non Dairy Queen sent me her recipe for papusas, a traditional dish served in El Salvador. Papusas are basically thick handmade corn tortillas, typically stuffed with beans, cheese, and or meat. My version wasn’t quite as traditional, but it sure was delicious. I halved Sarena’s recipe and made enough dough for about 3 large papusas. These are so easy as all they contain are corn flour and warm water, and then you just fry them in a skillet. Thanks Sarena!
I stuffed my first papusa with Katie’s pesto, crumbled goat cheese, and 1 slice of tomato.
Then for dessert, I made another with peanut butter and sliced bananas.
So, next time you feel like popping a Hot Pocket in the microwave, try making a papusa instead! 
Don’t forget to enter my MaraNatha Nut Butter Giveaway, and for another delicious recipe, please check out my guest post over at Meals and Moves.
What was your favorite Hot Pocket back in the day? I usually kept it pretty simple with ham & cheese.
{ 93 comments }
Wow those look delicious!! I love papusas but they can be really unhealthy – unless you make them at home!
Can I please come over for breakfast sometime ?
Too bad Nashville is about 6 hours away…
Those ham and cheese hot pockets were my summer staple in high school. I also loved the broccoli + cheese ones and the pizza ones, but the ham and cheese were always my #1.
Brandi, You know you are welcome at my breakfast table anytime…as long as I can come over to your house for dinner, and I have a request. Homemade pitas!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a Hot Pocket! I really haven’t had much frozen food. But those look delish. I would love the pesto and goat cheese one.
I need to do a healthy version of Hot Pocket .. Now
I bought some random hot pockets about a year ago, thinking that they would taste good and nostalgic. Uh, not so much– they were so nasty!! Ha…I guess my taste buds have really changed, because I definitely digged them back in the day!
Those look so good! I love cornmeal pancakes, so I bet I’d really like these!
Yum!
Oh, I used to eat the pepperoni pizza and broccoli-cheese hot pockets. Funny because now I don’t eat meat or cheese, ha ha.
I never had a hot pocket, but the savory papusa with goat cheese looks extremely appetizing!!
Ana
I was never a huge fan of Hot Pockets, but these look AMAZING! Thank you for sharing – you always have the most interesting ideas!
goodness gracious! you need to come to florida and sell these in my office. people would flip!
I love papusas but have never thought to make them myself. Yum – on the to make list!
I have to admit, I loved hotpockets when I was kid. Huge fan of the broccoli cheese and ham and cheese
haahaha this is hilarious because i went to college in the pretty much ghetto (newark, nj) and the guys who used to work the cafeteria were people on parole who just got out of prison (safe, i know right? go aramark) anyways at the end of each semester when they had to use whatever was left in the cafeteria, the sandwhich guy would make “hood pockets” which were just wraps with whatever you wanted (or what was left) and grilled on the panini maker. i think people just went to his line so he would continue to shout out “get your hood pockets right hur!” hahahaha this post totally reminded me of that
Julie, Haha – glad I brought some laughter to your morning.
Oh I lived off the Pepperoni Pizza Lean Pockets for a whole semester in college – they were always on sale 2 for 1 at my grocery store so somehow I justified it.
ok i’m in. so you just mix and fry then stuff em with stuff? easy.
i would love to put some corn relish in the middle.
Vanillasugar, Yep, that’s it. So easy!
Looks simple and tasty.
I never actually liked hot pockets. They looked good on the package but when I actually tried heating one up it was just kinda bland and super hot on the inside. Did not like!
Totally need to make some papusas Ohio style! (:
Did you use any oil to fry them up?
My favorite Hot Pocket as a kid was any type of pizza flavor.
Have you ever seen the video clip of stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan talking about HP’s?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw7xPaL56Ow
Enjoy!
Scott, used a tiny schmear of ghee. Off to watch Jim Gaffigan now.
Oh my gosh. I had my first authentic papusa last week. They were delicious! A coworker’s wife made them for all of us.
I never even thought about making them myself! Obviously I want to try the pb/banana one!
I used to love the regular old pepperoni pizza type hot pockets, yum!
Oh dear me, those look phenomenal ! I’m especially partial to your sweet variety (naturally). I definitely plan on recreating
drooooooooooooooooooooool.
I have nothing else to say.
Mmm, I love pupusas! Stuffed with smashed black beans and monterey jack cheese and served with a heap of curtido, please!
Oooohh, that looks GOOD! I don’t remember eating Hot Pockets that much but I think I may have tried the pizza ones a couple times. I must not have liked them, though, because I didn’t eat them often!
omg, this looks heavenly(and easy too!) I am sooo making this for dinner tonight, my mom has a bag of corn flour handy.. I can’t wait!!!
OMG! I have a friend/coworker who is El Salvadorian and they own a restaurant in town. He always brings me papusas to work!! They are sooo delicious, but very oily!!! These healthy versions look amazing
I cannot make to wake these – the pb&banana one looks SO good!
oh my gosh, I’m making these asap!
I always like the ham & cheese hot pockets too, but the meatball (I think they were lean pockets actually-that’s what my mom bought) were pretty good too.
I’m loving the idea of the sweet pupusas – I love them when they’re savoury and I can’t wait to try a dessert version. Congrats on getting more than 700 fans on Facebook too.
Thanks Bridget. The PB + banana papusa was so good. Can’t decide which one I liked better.
these look delicious girl!!
Mmmm! I love corn muffins, I wonder if I could use this stuff to make them! <3
My fave hot pocket used to be the pizza ones!
Freckledfoodie, I’m sure you could. Here is a recipe for corn cake I found using the corn flour: http://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes_detail.php?rid=440
Hot Pockets!
Watch this. Now. Seriously.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4653268/12437422
Mama Pea, Yes, another commenter sent me that video clip. Hilarious! Why are Hot Pockets never on restaurant menus…and why do the middles always stay frozen!?!
Mmm… We just got back to the states after a month in Latin America, so I’m in the midst of catching up on blogs, and had to comment. We didn’t make it to El Salvador on this trip, but I’ve spent time there in the past, and LOVE pupusas – so simple, so good, and so filling. Definitely going to have to check out this recipe!
Hot Pocket? Nah, that was never my thing. However, Triscuits. That was my fave gluten containing, salty carb. I havent had one in 10 years and 99% of other gluten containing foods, I dont miss. But triscuits, well, I admit, I miss em
Serena & Katie, both lovely ladies! Great recipes, too of course !
wow how creative!!! YUMMM I need to make it!
For some reason hot pocket grossed me out. My friend liked them a lot but I just couldn’t do it. I love frozen burritos now though. Evol and Amy’s are my favorites right now but the Papua looks like fun to make.
I LOVE papusas! I discovered them upon my first visit to Las Americas off Nolansville here in Nashville. They have GREAT authentic mexican food and their papusas are to die for.
Emily, That’s where I had my first papusa too!
A dessert hot pocket? I’m loving where this is going!
I was all about the broccoli and cheese hot pockets back in the day.
Thats much better than a hot pocket! I love using cornmeal now with something savory baked in. I guess thats why I like cornmeal crust pizza so much.
I love pupusas! Luis is from El Sal and I have lived there and they’re as common as burgers are here in the U.S. Everyone loves pupusas! Yours looked great. Now I’m craving pupusas from a town called Olocuilta, where they’re made with rice (not corn) and my faves are filled with cheese and an herb called lorocco. YUM.
oh my gosh! Papusa!! I need to make those. I always thing of a momma carrying her sweet baby around in a pupus-a.
So cute!
XOXO
Charlie is such a stinker! We think he might, maybe, could be allergic to peanut butter? bless his little heart. He itches like crazy! An ideas??? He likes his new food, but we have to grind it up in the food processor, as the chunks are too big for him. XOXO
Polly, Not sure about the PB – never heard of a dog being allergic. What kind of shampoo are you using on him? Poor sweet Charlie.
Love you, and yes, totally thought of you when I made the papusas. Still need to make your cornbread!
I used to live near a pupuseria in NYC – love the earthiness of the corn that comes through! We actually have a combination dance hall and pupuseria just outside of Asheville, and it’s always a fun spot for good food, cheap Mexican beer and salsa dancing!
Those look awesome! I’m never buying tortillas again!!
Never really ate hot pockets…I was a turkey and cheese sandwich kinda kid
~Alyssa
must. make. papusas! I must admit that I LOVE hot pockets (Philly cheesesteak? Yes please). I love how you made a savory and sweet version.
p.s. I can’t believe the only ingredients are corn flour and water. Now I’m *definitely* making them
Gracie, I didn’t quite believe it myself, but it’s true!
Yum I love papusas. I haven’t had one in a while but you (as always) have inspired me. I just emailed myself to make some this week.
Hot pockets-I used to love the pizza ones. Oh my, pizza has always been one of my weakest links! Hmmmm maybe a pizza papusa might be in my near future…
<3
Nicole, Yes, a pizza papusa!
Ya know what I am craving…pupusas! I will definitely do the pesto with this too! Thanks for sharing it. I am glad you enjoyed them. They are just so darn easy and good!
I had no idea papusas were so easy to make! I’ve had them at an LA Mexican open-air market and they were delish. Love your fillings!
i’ve never had a papusa before…nor had i even HEARD of them!! fab idea xx
Omigosh, I’ve wanted to make these forever but I never knew how! I’m so absurdly happy and excited now. Hah. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Kaztronomic, You’re welcome.
I lived with a family in Costa Rica for a while and my “mom” made the BEST sugar papusas – just water, corn flour, and a little bit of sugar. She made them like pancakes, and let them get pretty hard. They were great dipped in tea.
Hot pocket were one of my favorite lunches growing up. I could eat quite a few of the ham and cheese ones. But pesto in one – great idea!
I read your guest post & I loved it because it’s real & honest
A few years ago, I was into Lean Pockets (same thing)? Anyways, I was all over the pepperoni. That and the kind with 4 types of cheeses lol
Danielle, Thanks so much for reading my guest post, and yes Lean Pockets are made the same company. Although how they managed to get 4 types of cheeses into a “lean” pocket will always be a mystery to me.
Holy Moses that looks good! And I have a whole stockpile of cornmeal from a cornbread-bakin’ phase I went through, that’s now going to no good use… hmmm!!
I was also a fan of the classic ham & cheese Hot Pocket. Simple, cheesy, dependably “delicious” (quotes added later by my older, wiser self
)
40apples, Ha – yes, those Hot Pockets sure were “delicious”…what we were we thinking?!?
WOW those look delicious! And so easy!
xo
Kris
I used to *love* Hot Pockets! Then eventually I lost interest. I would buy them and my mom would say “You’re never going to eat these! They’re just going to crowd the freezer.” and she was right..they’d be pushed onto my brother lol. Yours look awesome, though! Especially the dessert one. You better take claim to this otherwise Hot Pockets might steal your idea
You can make soo many things with masa (corn flour) and it is so simple, just mixed with water! Although traditional Mexican cuisine requires a certain texture/feel to get the perfect consistency of the masa+water. I remember working in TX, the Mexican ladies in the kitchen would always be making some new thing for us to try, and they never had to measure the flour/water, its like bread baking- you really have to know by feel.
This looks delicious though!
Beeks, I wish your Texan ladies could give me masa lessons – I’ve got a huge bag left of the stuff. Love to you and your sweet mama!
Papusas look DELICIOUS!
I was never a Hot Pocket eater, but my husband still eats them. I liked the few bites of his meatball one that I tried, but too salty for me.
Jenn
Oh, Heather, I love that you make use the same base ingredient for your entree and dessert! So resourceful.
I’ll have to try these- much healthier than a Hot Pocket. (does anyone else’s mind go immediately to Jim Gaffigan when they hear the name “Hot Pocket”?…as in, “have you tried the Hot Pocket flavored Hot Pocket?…tastes like a Hot Pocket!)
Megan, Yes! Haha – a couple of other commenters left Jim Gaffigan’s YouTube clip in their comment. Too funny.
Your look awesome. I think I went for the ham & cheese back in the day too… I shudder now thinking about eating stuff like that!
Those look soooooooooooo good. Wow. I think I need to invest in some corn flour.
ooo this is so great! I love Gluten Free Recipes (I am or try to be gluten free, I love light fluffy Gluten filled foods) But those look so tasty, and these will be so great when I head back to work in the fall and have to rush off and need Papusas of energy.
I really liked the pepperoni pizza pockets and the Ham and Cheese.
I used to love the sausage and pepperoni lean pockets. Lord knows what’s in those~
oooooooooh that pb & banana papusa looks AMAZING! hahah but I think pb banana ANYthing is amazing
!
my favorite hot pocket… you know, I actually dont remmeber. Although.. I think I was a fan of the “breakfast” types- like with the egg and cheese? I think that’s hot pockets.. maybe lean pockets? haha Im not sure.
mm pupusas! I just had authentic pupusas yesterday from a tiny little restaurant outside of DC. So yummy, but definitely not the healthiest! I need to try making these. Love your filling combos!
Can you believe I never had a hot pocket before?? I was always a grilled cheese girl ; )
Pure2Raw, That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
OH my GOSH. I love papusas!!! I never thought to make my own. We have a really big El Salvadorian population where I grew up and there are papusarias everywhere. My El Salvadorian friend introduced me to these yearssss ago. I totally am making my own!! Thanks for the inspiration.
Jackie, You’re welcome. Enjoy!
I actually never liked hot pockets. I did however LOVE pupusas! and haven’t had one since going meat/ dairy free. I’ve been meaning to make them myself for months now and your non traditional fillings might be the final push to get me to stop putting this off.
I also think I need to accept that I have to spend more to get goat’s milk yogurt again because I’ve been trying the real stuff lately and it does not sit well at all, even my favorite greek kinds
I’m off to enter the giveaway now, *HUGS* to you and Heablet!
Gaby, Love the goat milk yogurt, but yeah, it is pricey.
Thanks for the hug – right back at ya! 
It looks delicious and so juicy
I avoid all grains so I can’t eat that but I ll try it with buckwheat!
YUM!!! Reading blogs while starving=torture
Better go eat!
please tell me you’ve seen this before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw7xPaL56Ow
the pilot and i will sing the hot pockets jingle just kicks sometimes (and because we’re weird) haha
and PUPUSAS. our housekeeper in tucson is from el salvador and would bring us papusa every friday, with shredded cabbage and carrots and homemade salsa. best. thing. ever.
thanks for sharing that recipe!
have a great day <3
Gina, Haha – yes, several others sent me that clip. Hilarious! Hope you enjoy some homemade papusas soon. I never knew they were so easy!
Those look amazing! I used to love hot pockets. Haven’t had one in ages. Will def. try this instead. Thanks for the inspiration!
Rosey Becca, Welcome.
Mmmm…those papusas look good! (Especially the dessert one!)
I recently started eating Lean Pockets…they have come out with so many delicious flavors! My favorite is Garlic Chicken White Pizza!
I’ve missed hot pockets so much since giving up wheat. So excited to see this post!! i guess it would go good with other gluten-free flours too.. ive got some amaranth and sorghum i need to use up.
xoxo
I believe this is kinda the same as making arepas, ya? If so, it’s easy as pie, and something I love to make. It’s been a while — I’ll have to revisit!
Gena, I had to google arepas, but yes, it looks like the same thing. So easy and delicious, and I’m happy to hear they will be back in your life soon.
I’ve never had papusas before, but they look ever so delicious. I will have to try this recipe!
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