Easy Mexican Sopes recipe

Easy Mexican Sopes

5/5 (1)
25 mins
Vadim Rachok
15.12.2023
01.03.2024
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Recipe Ingredients Video Nutrition
8 / 10
Health score
Dairy FreeEgg free dishGluten free dishNut Free Dish

I am so happy that I stumbled upon these Easy Mexican Sopes, even though it was mostly by chance! Some time ago, I was preparing a recipe that required masa. Since I only needed 1/4 cup for the Easy Mexican Sopes recipe, I went to the grocery store thinking of buying a small packet. However, the store had only 5-pound bags. Oh no!

Discovering delightful surprises in the kitchen is a chef's joy, and these Easy Mexican Sopes are a testament to that culinary serendipity! What started as a quest for masa turned into a delightful exploration of these small, flavorful Mexican appetizers. Topped with refried beans, grilled chicken, and vibrant veggies, these sopes are a burst of Mexican goodness that vanishes within minutes. A happy accident turned into a delicious discovery!

My Mexican Sopes Story

After arriving home, I inspected the bag and found out that it contained masa, which is used to make tortillas. Exciting! I can make up to 400 tortillas with the remaining masa, but sadly, I don’t have a tortilla press and have no intention of purchasing one. However, I noticed a recipe for making sopes on the side of the bag, which sounded interesting to me. Sopes are small Mexican appetizers that I am interested in trying out.

These little appetizers are amazing! I topped the sopes with refried beans, grilled chicken, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and sour cream. “The food is consumed within minutes!”

Easy Mexican Sopes step by step recipe

Ingridients for Mexican Sopes

To create these beauties, you will require the following items:

  1. 2 cups instant corn masa flour
  2. 1-1/2 cups water
  3. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  4. 1-1/2 cups refried beans
  5. 2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced thin
  6. 1 cup tomatoes, chopped (I used Roma)
  7. 1 large red onion, chopped
  8. 2 cups chopped green leaf lettuce (about 5 leaves)
  9. 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  10. 1 cup sour cream

Easy Mexican Sopes

Mexican Sopes: Cooking Steps

  1. Measure masa into a medium bowl, add water, and mix into a soft, spongy dough with a fork.
  2. Divide the masa into 20 equal portions and roll them into balls. Flatten each ball into a patty that is about 3 inches in diameter.
  3. To prepare sopes, heat a large skillet on high heat. Do not add oil yet. Cook each patty for 1-2 minutes on each side until it turns lightly brown. After cooking the patties, use your hands to press around the edges of the patties to form a rim about 1/4 inch high. Please be careful while doing this as the dough patties will be very hot! Keep the sopes warm by covering them with a cloth while you are doing this.
  4. First, heat up the oil in a skillet. Then, fry the sopes until they turn golden brown. After frying, remove the sopes from the skillet and place them on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Spread a tablespoon of refried beans on top of each sope and add sliced chicken, cheese, tomato, onion, lettuce, and sour cream. Finally, your delicious sopes are ready to savor!

The Origin of Sopes

The origins of sopes can be traced back to the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica, particularly the indigenous peoples of present-day Mexico. Sopes evolved from tlaxcalli, a type of corn dough flatbread that was a staple of the diet of these indigenous groups.

Originally, sopes were eaten by the indigenous peoples of the region as a simple and nutritious staple. They were often topped with ingredients such as beans, meat, cheese, and various vegetables. This reflects the availability of ingredients in the region.

Today, sopes remain an integral part of Mexican cuisine, enjoyed throughout the country and celebrated for their versatility and delicious flavors. The enduring legacy of this ancient Mesoamerican dish can be found in street stands as well as fine restaurants, where it is often served as an appetizer, snack, or main course.

Toppings Variations

You can simply top your sopes with a hearty helping of refried beans, queso fresco, picadillo, shredded chicken, barbacoa or carne asada, chopped lettuce, thinly sliced cabbage, and chile de arbol salsa.

You can also use any of the Mexican leftovers that you may have in your refrigerator. Garnish sopes with cilantro, diced onion, and your favorite hot sauce, and dig in.

Can Sopes be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make sopes ahead of time. Prepare the dough ball according to the recipe, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to a few days, or until you are ready to form the sopes. Alternatively, you can fry all the sopes, store them in the refrigerator, and reheat them to serve later.

How to Store Sopes?

You can store baked sopes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. They can also be frozen for up to a month.

A rather good dish that can serve as a quick and healthy snack or even a full-fledged lunch. The combination of ingredients is so well-balanced that Easy Mexican Sopes can stand alone as a complete meal and do not require any additional vegetables or side dishes. I do not recommend this dish for the evening, especially for those looking to lose weight, as corn flour contains quite a few fast-absorbing carbohydrates, and the meat in the filling is still quite heavy for an evening meal. So, the optimal time for this dish is still the first half of the day when our body needs energy, and the digestive system is working at its maximum activity.

Jenny Dobrynina
Jenny Dobrynina
Nutrition Editor
Health score:
8 / 10
Easy Mexican Sopes
5/5 (1)
Author:Vadim Rachok
These Mexican sopes are a great appetizer for any party. Serve them with various toppings such as beans, cheese, and meat.
Easy Mexican Sopes recipe
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Servings:
20
Yield:
20 sopes
The ingredients you need
2 cups instant corn masa flour
1-1/2 cups water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 cups refried beans
2 grilled chicken breasts sliced thin
1 cup tomatoes chopped (I used Roma)
1 large red onion chopped
2 cups chopped green leaf lettuce about 5 leaves
1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1 cup sour cream
Let’s start !
1
1 Start by measuring the masa in a medium bowl. Add water and mix into a soft, spongy dough with a fork.
2
2 Divide the masa into 20 portions and shape them into small, thick patties that are 3 inches in diameter.
3
3 Heat a large skillet on high heat, and cook each patty for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly browned. Do not add oil until the skillet is heated.
4
4 After you have cooked the patties, take care not to burn your hands while pressing around the edges of each patty to create a 1/4 inch high rim. To keep the sopes warm, cover them with a cloth while you work on this step.
5
5 Heat the oil in the skillet and fry the sopes until golden. Remove and drain on paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
6
6 Spread a tablespoon of refried beans onto each sope. Then, top with sliced chicken, cheese, tomato, onion, lettuce, and sour cream. Serve warm!
Nutrition Information
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Calories: 169
% Daily Value *
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 8g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 584mg25%
Total Carbohydrate 22g8%
Dietary Fiber 4g14%
Protein 3g 
Calcium 42mg3%
Iron 2mg12%
Potassium 85mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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Watch How To Make It

For perfect sopes, press around the edges after cooking to form a rim, adding a delightful texture. Keep sopes warm by covering them while working. When frying, aim for a golden-brown hue for that crispy exterior. And don't hold back on the toppings—let your creativity shine with layers of refried beans, chicken, cheese, and fresh veggies. A symphony of flavors awaits! 🇲🇽🌮✨

Vadim Rachok
Vadim Rachok
Pro tip from chef
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