Pupusas and parrilladas: this local food stand is serving up Salvadoran delicacies
Ily Plisch’s food once brought a customer to tears.
As Plisch tells it, the moment he dug into the casamientos she made, (a Salvadoran dish that is a combination of rice and beans) tears were streaming down his face.
He told Plisch he hadn’t had casamientos like that since he visited his sister back in El Salvador, and that the dish brought back memories of his childhood.
Those are the customer interactions Plisch gets on the daily.
With just a grill and everyday ingredients, Plisch has been able to transform a modest lot on South Sixth Avenue, into a little piece of El Salvador. From the family recipes used, down to the seasonings, everything she creates is a love letter to her beloved country.
Hidden in an alley that’s shared with a car wash, Asaditos Zulmytas Juayua-Tucson, 1120 S. 6th Ave., has been serving up cheesy pupusas and other El Salvadorian delicacies since October. As soon as you have a mouthful of pork and cheese, you won’t be overlooking their tent again.
Plisch stands behind the griddle, stuffing balls of masa with cheese, pork and beans, carefully crafting her pupusas. She then delicately flattens the ball, pushing around the edges to create the perfect circle.
As the pupusas sizzle on the griddle, a warm smell of fresh corn fills the air, like you just stepped into a corn tortilla factory. Your mouth might start to water as you watch your meal cook on the grill, developing an exquisite golden-brown crisp on top.
The sight of my pupusas almost brought a tear to my eye, sitting on the plate like a delicious, savory pancake. Along with the meal, came a bright tomato salsa and pickled veggies to put on top, adding a tangy element to the dish.
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Ily Plisch makes pupusas at her food stand, Asaditos Zulmytas Juayua-Tucson.
