Mexican Sopes Recipe
User Reviews
5
Mexican Sopes Recipe
Description
The Mexican Sopes Recipe focuses on preparing masa harina dough mixed with salt, shortening, and warm water to achieve a texture similar to play-doh, which is essential for handling and shaping. After dividing and pressing the dough balls into flat patties, edges are pinched to form a rim that prevents toppings from spilling. Cooking on a lightly greased comal develops a partially dry and sturdy base. This method produces sopes with a balanced thickness, firm enough to hold generous toppings without crumbling or being doughy.
Sopes can be customized with various toppings such as carne asada, chicken mole, refried beans, or ground meat mixtures, catering to different dietary preferences. The recipe includes practical tips on shaping for ease and visual appeal, and emphasizes enjoying sopes warm to experience their crispness paired with fresh toppings. They also store well refrigerated or frozen, allowing for meal prep convenience.
Following the guidance on dough consistency, thickness, and cooking technique helps achieve traditional sopes with a pleasant chew and structure suitable for savory fillings. The adaptable nature of this recipe encourages experimenting with fillings, making sopes a flexible dish for family meals or gatherings.
Ingredients
- 2 cups masa harina corn flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon shortening
- 1¼ cups water warm
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl combine the masa harina and salt. Add the shortening and rub in with your fingers so that it is evenly distributed. Add warm water and knead until mixture is smooth and slightly sticky. If the dough is dry add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Dough should be soft and moist like play-doh and not dry. Divide dough into 8 portions. Cover with a damp cloth to keep the dough soft and moist.
- Line a tortilla press with plastic wrap. Place a ball of dough on the press and cover with another piece of plastic wrap and press down to form a little 1/4-inch-thick patty. Peel off the plastic wrap. (If you don’t have a tortilla press you can use a heavy skillet or pot to make the dough patties or use your hands to form a patty.) Repeat with remaining balls of dough.
- Preheat a lightly greased comal (griddle) with olive oil on medium-high heat. Cook a patty on the comal for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side until dry.
- While the partially cooked patty is still warm and as soon as you are able to handle it, pull the dough of the patty up and outward towards the edge, creating a little ridge of dough all the way around the circle to create a little “boat” or sope. Repeat with the remaining patties.
- Add a drizzle of oil to the pan and cook sopes until lightly browned and slightly crispy on each side.
- Fill each sope with the filling of your choice and garnish with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Maintain a Play-Do-like dough consistency—soft and pliable but not sticky—for easier shaping.
- Pinch edges of the dough discs to create a rim that holds toppings securely during cooking and serving.
- The dough discs should be about 1/4 inch thick to ensure they cook through without being doughy and to support toppings well.
- Freshly cooked sopes are best served warm to enjoy the contrast between the crispy base and flavorful toppings.
- You can prepare the masa cakes ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze individually wrapped for up to 3 months.
- Reheat premade sopes on a hot griddle before adding toppings to restore texture.
- Feel free to customize sopes fillings according to preference, including carne asada, chicken mole, ground meats, refried beans, or vegetarian options like nopales salad.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8-16
Amount Per Serving
Calories 118 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 118kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 76mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 75mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 61IU | 1% |
| Calcium | 39mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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