Sopes are a traditional Mexican dish that are adored for their unique combination of textures and flavors. The base is a thick, fried corn dough that's topped with various fillings like meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, and a rich tomato and chile sauce. It's an appetizing dish that offers an authentic taste of Mexican cuisine.
The main ingredient that you might not find in your regular grocery store is instant corn masa flour. It's a type of cornmeal that's treated with an alkaline ingredient, which gives it a unique flavor and texture. If you can't find it in the international aisle of your local supermarket, you might want to check a Latin American specialty store. The dried California chiles and Mexican crema might also be a bit harder to find, but can usually be located in the same places.
Sopes From Scratch Ingredients
Instant corn masa flour: A type of cornmeal that's treated with an alkaline ingredient. It's the main component of the sopes and gives them their characteristic flavor and texture.
Water: Used to form the dough for the sopes.
Dried California chiles: These are used to make the chile sauce. They have a mild to medium heat and a slightly sweet flavor.
Garlic: Gives a subtle flavor to the chile sauce.
Tomatoes: The base ingredient for the tomato sauce.
Dried oregano: Adds a hint of earthy flavor to the tomato sauce.
Skirt steak: The main protein for the filling. This cut of meat is flavorful and juicy.
All-purpose meat seasoning: Enhances the flavor of the skirt steak. You can use your preferred brand.
Corn oil: Used for frying the sopes.
Refried beans: One of the traditional toppings for sopes. They add a creamy texture and rich flavor.
Iceberg lettuce: Adds a fresh and crunchy element to the dish.
Mexican crema: A tangy and creamy dairy product that's similar to sour cream but a bit thinner. It's drizzled on top of the sopes.
Queso fresco: A Mexican cheese that's mild and crumbly. It's sprinkled on top of the sopes for added flavor.
One reader, Amalita Sena says:
The Mexican sopes from scratch recipe is a game-changer! The sopes turned out perfectly crispy and the flavors were amazing. The homemade masa dough was a hit, and the combination of refried beans, carne asada, and fresh toppings made for a delicious and authentic dish. I can't wait to make it again!
Mastering the Techniques for Authentic Sopes
How to shape the sopes: After frying the dough, pinch the sides up to form a wall around the edge to shape the sopes. This will create a well to hold the toppings.
How to make the chile sauce: Boil the dried chiles in water, then blend them with salt and garlic until smooth. This creates a flavorful chile sauce for the sopes.
How to make the tomato sauce: Boil the tomatoes, then blend them with reserved cooking liquid, oregano, and salt until smooth. This creates a delicious tomato sauce for the sopes.
How to cook the carne asada: Season the skirt steak with meat seasoning and salt, then cook for about 10 minutes, flipping frequently until seared and cooked through. After cooking, cut the meat into small pieces for the sopes.
How to fry the sopes: Dip the shaped sopes in the chile sauce, then fry them in hot corn oil for about 5 minutes, flipping frequently until golden brown. Drain the sopes on paper towels or a wire rack before serving.
How To Make Mexican Sopes From Scratch
Sopes are fried corn tortillas from Mexico. These Mexican sopes are dipped in chile sauce for a spicy kick and topped with refried beans, cheese, and steak.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 1cupinstant corn masa flour
- 1cupwater
- 4dried california chiles
- 2½tspsalt,divided
- 1clovegarlic
- 4medium tomatoes
- ½tspdried oregano
- ½: 5px; letter-spacing: 2px”>½tspall-purpose meat seasoning
- 2cupscorn oil
For Serving:
- refried bean
- iceberg lettuce,shredded
- Mexican crema
- queso fresco
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, mix the masa flour and ½ cup of water together using hands. Once combined, add the rest of the water and knead until the dough forms a smooth ball.
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Heat a large pan or griddle over medium-high heat.
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Pat the dough out into 6 flat circles.
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Fry the dough for about 5 minutes turning frequently, until just lightly brown.
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Once the dough is cooked, shape the sopes by pinching the sides up to form a wall around the edge. Set aside to cool.
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Rip the stems off the dried chiles and discard the seeds. Rinse the chiles, if necessary.
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Add the chiles to a small pot of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, remove the pot from the heat.
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Transfer the chiles and their cooking liquid to a blender and add 1 teaspoon of salt and the garlic. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
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Add the tomatoes to a small pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook until the tomato skins split, then remove from the heat and drain, reserving ½ cup of the tomato water.
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Transfer the tomatoes to a blender with the reserved cooking liquid, oregano, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
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Heat a large pan or griddle over medium-high heat. Add the skirt steak and season with the meat seasoning and remaining teaspoon of salt. Cook the meat for about 10 minutes, flipping frequently until seared and cooked through.
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Transfer the meat to a cutting board and cut into small pieces. Set aside.
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Heat the corn oil in a deep, large pan over high heat.
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Dip the sopes in the chile sauce, turning to coat completely.
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Once the oil is hot, fry the sopes for about 5 minutes flipping frequently, until golden brown. Drain the sopes on paper towels or a wire rack.
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To serve, fill the sopes with refried beans, carne asada, shredded lettuce, tomato sauce, Mexican crema, and queso fresco.
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Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 831.65kcal
- Fat: 78.01g
- Saturated Fat: 11.39g
- Trans Fat: 0.26g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 22.36g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 40.19g
- Carbohydrates: 22.04g
- Fiber: 2.06g
- Sugar: 3.81g
- Protein: 11.07g
- Cholesterol: 24.57mg
- Sodium: 659.29mg
- Calcium: 22.85mg
- Potassium: 413.28mg
- Iron: 1.51mg
- Vitamin A: 50.59µg
- Vitamin C: 54.52mg
Pro Tip for Perfecting Your Sopes Technique
When shaping your sopes, it's important to create a substantial edge to hold in your fillings. After frying the dough, while it's still warm and pliable, pinch the edges to create a rim. This will form a shallow bowl shape. If the dough cools and becomes too hard to shape, you can briefly reheat it on the griddle to soften it again. Remember, the key to a good sope is its ability to hold all the delicious toppings without spilling.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Sopes from Scratch
Prep ahead: Prepare the chile and tomato sauces in advance and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Batch cooking: Cook a larger quantity of carne asada and freeze the extra portions for future use in sopes or other dishes.
Organized workspace: Set up your cooking area with all the ingredients and tools needed for efficiency and ease of preparation.
Multitask: While the sopes are frying, utilize the time to assemble the fillings and toppings to streamline the serving process.
Efficient assembly: Pre-measure and prepare the fillings and toppings in advance to expedite the final assembly of the sopes.
Substitute Ingredients For Mexican Sopes From Scratch Recipe
instant corn masa flour - Substitute with regular cornmeal: Regular cornmeal can be used as a substitute for instant corn masa flour. However, the texture and flavor may be slightly different, so adjust the amount of water as needed to achieve the right consistency for the sopes dough.
dried california chiles - Substitute with dried guajillo chiles: Dried guajillo chiles can be used as a substitute for dried California chiles. They offer a similar mild heat and a slightly fruity flavor, making them a suitable alternative for the recipe.
skirt steak - Substitute with flank steak: Flank steak can be used as a substitute for skirt steak in this recipe. Both cuts come from the abdominal area of the cow and have a similar texture and flavor, making flank steak a suitable alternative for the sopes.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making Sopes
Mixing bowl: A mixing bowl is essential for combining ingredients and forming the dough for the sopes.
Blender: A blender is used to puree the dried chiles and tomatoes to make the flavorful sauces for the sopes.
Large pan or griddle: This is used for frying the sopes and cooking the skirt steak.
Small pot: A small pot is used for boiling the dried chiles and tomatoes.
Cutting board: A cutting board is necessary for slicing the cooked skirt steak into small pieces.
Deep, large pan: This is used for frying the sopes in hot oil.
Paper towels or wire rack: These are used for draining the fried sopes before serving.
Storing and Freezing Homemade Sopes
To store leftover sopes, allow them to cool completely to room temperature before placing them in an airtight container. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
If you want to freeze the sopes, wrap each one individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place them in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag. Label the container with the date and contents. Frozen sopes can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat refrigerated sopes, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the sopes on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat them in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes on each side.
For frozen sopes, you can reheat them directly from the freezer. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), remove the plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and place the frozen sopes on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
If you have leftover toppings like refried beans, carne asada, or tomato sauce, store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. They can be kept for up to 3-4 days and reheated as needed when serving the sopes.
Reheating Leftover Sopes for Best Results
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover sopes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and slightly crispy on the edges. This method helps to restore the texture of the masa base while keeping the toppings warm and flavorful.
For a quicker option, use a toaster oven. Set the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and place the sopes on the toaster oven rack. Heat for 5-7 minutes, or until warmed through and slightly crispy. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
If you prefer a softer texture, wrap the sopes in damp paper towels and microwave them on high for 30-45 seconds. Check the temperature and repeat in 15-second intervals if needed. This method will soften the masa base while heating the toppings.
For a crispy texture, reheat the sopes in a skillet or on a griddle over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil or butter to the pan and heat the sopes for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until crispy and heated through. This method will give you a nice crispy exterior while keeping the interior soft and warm.
If you have an air fryer, you can use it to reheat your sopes. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and place the sopes in the basket. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through and slightly crispy. This method is quick and helps to restore the texture of the masa base.
Interesting Trivia About Mexican Sopes
Sopes are a traditional Mexican dish that originated in central and southern parts of Mexico. They are a popular street food and are often enjoyed as a snack or appetizer.
Making Sopes at Home: Is It Cost-Effective?
This Mexican sopes recipe is quite cost-effective for a household. The main ingredients, such as corn masa flour, skirt steak, tomatoes, and refried beans, are affordable and readily available. The recipe yields a substantial amount, making it suitable for a family of four. The total cost for the ingredients is approximately $20, making it a budget-friendly option. The versatility of the dish and the use of simple, economical ingredients make it a practical choice for home cooking. Overall Verdict: 9.
Is This Mexican Dish Healthy or Not?
The Mexican sopes recipe, while delicious, is not particularly healthy due to several factors:
- The use of corn masa flour and frying the sopes in corn oil contributes to a high calorie and carbohydrate content
- Skirt steak, while flavorful, is a fattier cut of meat that can increase saturated fat intake
- Toppings like Mexican crema and queso fresco add additional fat and calories to the dish
However, the recipe does include some nutritious elements, such as tomatoes and lettuce, which provide vitamins and fiber.
To make this recipe healthier, consider the following modifications:
- Replace the corn masa flour with a whole grain alternative or use a smaller portion of the masa to reduce carbohydrate intake
- Opt for a leaner cut of meat, such as sirloin or tenderloin, to decrease saturated fat content
- Grill or bake the sopes instead of frying them to reduce the amount of oil used
- Use low-fat or non-fat versions of Mexican crema and queso fresco to cut down on fat and calories
- Increase the amount of vegetables used as toppings, such as adding diced onions, cilantro, or radishes for added nutrients and fiber
- Serve the sopes with a side salad or vegetable-based soup to balance out the meal and increase overall nutrient density
Our Editor's Opinion on This Sopes Recipe
The recipe for Mexican sopes from scratch is a delightful and authentic dish that captures the essence of traditional Mexican cuisine. The process of making the sopes from scratch adds a homemade touch that elevates the dish. The combination of flavors and textures, from the crispy sopes to the tender carne asada, creates a truly satisfying experience. The use of dried chiles and fresh tomatoes in the sauces adds depth and complexity to the dish. Overall, this recipe offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the vibrant and rich flavors of Mexican cooking.
Enhance Your Mexican Sopes From Scratch Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
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Why trust this Mexican Sopes From Scratch Recipe:
This recipe for Mexican sopes is a genuine taste of authentic Mexican cuisine. The use of instant corn masa flour ensures a traditional and delicious base for the sopes. The homemade chile sauce and tomato sauce add depth of flavor and showcase the use of fresh, natural ingredients. The inclusion of skirt steak as the protein brings a rich and savory element to the dish. The step-by-step instructions and attention to detail demonstrate a commitment to delivering a high-quality recipe that users can trust.
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