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Mexican Sopes are corn masa cakes that are usually topped with beef, pork, chicken, or beans.
Some people will add refried beans before adding the meat. They are then topped with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and salsa. DELICIOUS!
Making Mexican Sopes is a lot easier than you think. If you know how to make corn tortillas, you can make this recipe.
How to Make Them
- Mix masa harina and water.
- Enough to make a soft dough.
Once the dough comes together, knead it slightly. It should look like wet sand. Let the dough rest for a few minutes, then proceed to the next steps.
Other Masa Harina recipes:
Breakfast Gorditas
Tlacoyos
Masa for Tamales
- Start with a ball. Bigger than a golf ball.
- Put the ball in the center of the plastic wrap inside a tortilla press.
- Press down gently.
- The masa should still be thick not thin like a tortilla.
- Remove from the plastic wrap.
- Fry the masa.
If you press down too hard on the tortilla press, you will end up with tortillas. No worries. Form the ball again with the same masa, and try it again.
No tortilla press? You can also do this by hand like a gordita.
Frying is optional too. For “healthier sopes,” you can bake them in a 400 degrees F oven for 15 minutes.
- Pinch the edges of the sopes while they are warm.
- Don’t do this while they are hot, or you will burn yourself.
You’re making fried corn masa cakes in the shape of a bowl or a crater.
Are they gluten free?
Yes! Masa Harina is made from corn. Therefore, sopes are gluten free. However, depending on what toppings you use, it might not be gluten free.
Once they are ready, set them up on a towel. This will make serving a lot easier.
Entertaining Idea: Make the sopes ahead of time, and serve them with the toppings buffet style.
They also freeze well. Pull them out when you’re about to have a party or special dinner.
What is the difference between a gordita and a sope?
- Gorditas are sliced in half to make a pocket then stuffed.
- A sope is pinched around the rim to create a crater then topped with your favorite ingredients.
Here’s a thought: Make smaller Picaditas for appetizers like pizza bites.
How Long Do They Last
- In the fridge, Mexican Sopes will last up to 7 days.
- In the freezer, sopes will last up to 6 months.
How do you heat premade Sopes?
- Oven Method:Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Stovetop: Heat oil and fry the sopes for a few minutes. Drain the excess oil.
Ideas for Toppings:
Picadillo
Chorizo con Papas
Carne Asada
Salpicon de Pollo
Refried Beans
Once you have added your meat, top it off with lettuce (or shredded cabbage), tomatoes, cheese, and your favorite salsa. Time to DIG IN!
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Table of Contents
Sopes (or Picaditas)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup masa harina
- 1 ¼ cup warm water
- ¼ tspn salt (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the masa harina, salt (if using), and water.
- Mix well until the water is absorbed and a soft ball of dough forms.
- Only add the water that is necessary to form the dough.
- Cover the masa and let it rest for 15 minutes. (Optional but preferred)
- Knead the dough slightly. About 2 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a heavy skillet.
- Form a small ball from the dough, the size of a large golf ball.
- Open the tortilla press and place a large piece of plastic wrap. Or, use a cut up large gallon-size Ziploc plastic bag.
- Place the ball into the center of the tortilla press and in between the two pieces of plastic wrap.
- Cover the ball with the other half of the plastic wrap.
- Close the tortilla press and press down gently.
- Don’t press all the way down completely. You basically are making a thick tortilla.
- If you don’t have a tortilla press, you can do this by hand. Just like a gordita.
- Fry for 1 minute. Flip and fry for 1 more minute.
- Remove from the oil and drain any excess oil on a paper towel.
- While the sope is warm (not hot, or you’ll burn yourself), with two fingers, pinch around the edge to form a crater.
- Repeat until there is no masa left.
- Add toppings and enjoy!
I have never heard of Mexican sopes before nor have tried one. Now I learned something new! I love that you can use different types of toppings on them!
So I have always wanted to know how to make a gordita shell, this is perfect! Never tried sope before but definitely want too!
These sound delicious! I haven’t had sopes before, but I like Mexican food a lot. It would be fun to try to make, and what a versatile meal because you could customize it however you like.
Ohh!! These look so good! Can you come over to make these for us! 😀
These looks delicious I would like to try some in my kitchen. Looks perfect for beans and avocado.
I have had these at a restaurant before but never made it at home. This recipe looks easy enough. I totally need to make this one day!
Yum. This looks delicious and I should try to make these for dinner one night. I’m on the hunt for some new recipes to try that my kids will eat.
My best friend introduced me to sopes, and I am HOOKED! But I’ve never made them myself. It’s time to get the masa rolling here!
These look so yummy. I have only had one sope in my life and it was so good. Must try this recipe.
We make sopes all the time and cook them using the griddle on our stove top. Had a friend in Cali that would bring them for potlucks and one day I asked her for the recipe. Inexpensive and a nice switch up from tacos
I am a die hard fan of Mexican foods. Who would have thought making sopes could be this easy? I am definitely trying this one!
This is the kind of dinner that my whole family loves. I need to try it tonight!
I’ve never heard of Mexican sopes before, what a neat recipe and delicious one! I’ll be giving this a try when we get a home so that I can make delicious meals for the family again.
These look so good! I have never had these before and really want to make them. My family is always wanting to try new things for dinner and this would be perfect to have one night. Thank you for the recipe idea!
These look delicious! I know my guests will love them.
Oh my gosh, yum, these look incredible! I don’t think I’ve ever had these before, but I am so going to make them.
This sound really easy and looks so yummy. I think I’m going to have to try making this soon. Thanks for sharing!
Love your site and check it out every morning with a cup of tea.
I have made tortillas (not well but identifiable) but what I wonder is if I can pinch an edge around these before I fry them? Will the edge disappear? Will it hold up?