El Salvador declares the pupusa its national dish (2005)
El Salvador's Legislative Assembly passed a law naming the pupusa, a thick corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, pork, or beans, the country's national dish. The law aimed to protect its traditional preparation and promote national identity.
The declaration raised the dish's profile at home and among Salvadorans abroad.
Pupusas moved from a home-cooked staple to the anchor item on Salvadoran menus across the United States.
It explains why a Chesapeake restaurant built its menu around pupusas and why the licensing milestone matters to a community far from El Salvador.
