Mexican Sopes Recipe
User Reviews
5
Mexican Sopes Recipe
Description
The Mexican Sopes Recipe starts with a dough made from masa harina mixed with salt, baking powder, water, and melted lard or shortening. The dough is divided into balls, flattened with a tortilla press or rolling pin into thick discs, and shallow-fried in oil or lard until both sides develop a golden brown color. After frying, the edges of the sopes are pinched to form a rim to hold the toppings.
Toppings include canned refried beans, cooked and crumbled Mexican chorizo, chipotle salsa for a smoky heat, fresh Pico de Gallo, and sliced avocado. This combination provides layers of creamy, spicy, and fresh flavors that complement the corn base.
Sopes serve well as a snack, appetizer, or main dish, and allow flexibility to add other toppings like shredded lettuce, queso fresco, or grilled meats. The dough’s gluten-free ingredients make it suitable for those avoiding gluten, provided the toppings are checked accordingly. The pinched edges prevent toppings from spilling, making them practical for hand-held eating.
The recipe suggests keeping cooked sopes warm in a low oven while frying the remainder, ensuring they stay crisp. Using a paper towel to drain excess oil improves the final texture. Variations include vegan substitutions by replacing lard with vegetable shortening and using vegetarian beans, omitting chorizo.
Ingredients
For the Sopes:
- 2 cups masa harina
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/3 cup lard melted, or vegetable shortening
- cooking oil or lard/shortening, for frying
For the Toppings:
- 15 ounce refried beans canned
- 16 ounce Mexican chorizo cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup chipotle salsa red chili sauce, canned
- 1 cup Pico de Gallo
- 1 avocado
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, mix the masa, salt, and baking powder together. Stir in the water and melted lard. Once firm, mix by hand until the mixture is very smooth.
- Separate the dough into 16 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball.
- Set a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough oil (or extra lard) to coat the bottom of the pan 1/4 inch deep.
- As the oil is heating, use a tortilla press or rolling pin to flatten the balls into disks, approximately 1/3-1/2 inch thick.
- Once the oil is hot, place 5-7 Sopes in the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Then flip the Sopes and cook another 2-3 minutes.
- Move the cooked Sopes to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Immediately use the edge of a tablespoon to press a circular indention around the edges of each Sope, so it has a rim. Place the sheet in the oven to keep warm.
- Add more oil to the skillet if needed. Repeat with the remaining Sopes in 1-2 more batches. Make sure to press the indentions into the Sopes while they are still hot.
- Once all the Sopes are cooked, and all the rims are created. Prepare the toppings.
- Top each Sope with a dollop of refried beans, a tablespoon of cooked chorizo, a drizzle of thick chili sauce, a spoonful of pico de gallo, and a sliver of avocado. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Check that the chorizo and canned beans used are gluten-free to maintain the natural gluten-free quality of the sopes.
- For a vegan version, substitute vegetable shortening for lard, use vegetarian refried beans, and skip the chorizo.
- Consider adding varied toppings like shredded lettuce, cilantro, sour cream, carnitas, queso fresco, or salsa verde to customize flavors.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 272 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1Sope | |
| Calories | 272kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 24mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 901mg | 38% |
| Potassium | 268mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 210IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 3.5mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 45mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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