If you’ve ever visited restaurants that serve Salvadorian cuisine, you’ve probably had curtido, even if you didn’t know what it was called. It’s the lightly fermented sauerkraut-like side dish that comes with most meals. It easily pairs with many Salvadorian dishes, but you’re most likely find it alongside pupusas. Topping a pupusa with curtido brings a tangy crunch to a warm, savory bite. At California Burritos, we’re proud to be one of the few restaurants in the area that offer Salvadorian cuisine, but we know you can’t visit us every day (though, we don’t mind if you do). So, when you’re craving the flavors of Salvadorian food, why not try making curtido yourself at home?
Make your kitchen rival the best Salvadorian restaurants! Here’s a curtido recipe you can try at home.
Ingredients
- One medium-sized cabbage
- One red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup of shredded carrot
- One jalapeño sliced into rings (remove the seeds for less heat)
- ¼ cup of freshly chopped oregano, or 1 tablespoon of dried oregano
- 1 ½ tablespoons of finely ground sea salt
- ½ cup white or apple cider vinegar
- Boiling water
Preparation Steps
Cabbage
Remove the outer leaves and slice the cabbage in half. Place it in a mesh strainer and slowly pour boiling water over it. Rinse the cabbage halves with cold water and drain well, pressing out as much water as possible.
Combine with Other Ingredients
Put the cabbage and other vegetables (including the jalapeño) in a bowl with the salt. Mix them together and let them sit for at least 20 minutes to bring out the natural flavors. Next, add the oregano and vinegar. Combine thoroughly and let it set for at least an hour. Curtido tastes best after it’s marinated for several hours—or even days—but you can also enjoy it fresh. Serve your curtido with pupusas or other South American dishes. You can store curtido in a covered container or mason jar in the refrigerator.
Salvadorian Restaurants in NH | California Burritos
There’s a surprising amount of culinary diversity in New Hampshire, and we’re proud to be a part of that at California Burritos! Serving both authentic Mexican and Salvadorian food, our restaurants in southern New Hampshire are community favorites. Visit any of our four locations to try our customer favorites!