How to Cook Store-Bought Sopes: A Beginner’s Guide
Sopes are a traditional Mexican dish made of thick tortilla dough filled with beans, meat, cheese, or other toppings. They originate from Central and Southern Mexico and are often served as a street food or as a part of Mexican cuisine. If you’re someone who loves traditional Mexican food, learning how to cook store-bought sopes is an excellent way to bring that authentic flavor into your kitchen.
Ingredients and Equipment
Before you start cooking store-bought sopes, it’s essential to have all the necessary ingredients and equipment on hand. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Masa harina (corn flour)
- Water
- Oil for frying
- Salt (optional)
For toppings, you can use any filling of your choice. Some popular options include refried beans, grilled chicken or beef, diced avocado, salsa, and crumbled cheese. You’ll also need a mixing bowl, plastic wrap or damp cloth, rolling pin, knife, spoon and fryer
Preparing the Dough
To make the dough for sopes from masa harina flour you will need around 2 cups of it and around 1-1/4 cups of water. In a mixing bowl add masa harina flour gradually add water little at a time until dough starts forming. The amount of water required by dough varies depending on many things such as the type of masa used, the elevation where you live along with temperature even affect it. Fold and knead the dough until fully mixed well.
For best results let it sit for 15 minutes wrapped in plastic wrap or damp cloth to keep it from drying out. This procedure helps masa absorb the water fully and gives stable shaped sopes that don’t break during frying.
Shaping the Sopes
Once your dough is ready the next stage will be to form them into shapes. Traditionally, sopes are round and thick, so roll the dough into a ball around 2-3 inches in diameter and pressing your thumb into the center of the ball making an impression on both sides, this creates a well or “boat” for filling it. Use your thumb and fingers to push and pinch the edges up so that they form a circle with raised edges and are, therefore, concave in the center. Prepare all sopes beforehand and lay them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper in preparation for frying.
Frying the Sopes
Once all of your sopes have been shaped, it’s time to fry them up! In a deep skillet or fryer heat oil for frying over medium-high heat until it reaches between 350–375°F (177–190°C) as appropriate temperature is important not too low not too high. Add some sopes carefully few at a time. Ensure that there’s ample space around each sope once added to crisp up the edges while remaining soft inside. Fry each sope for 2-3 minutes turning depending on thickness until both sides are golden brown.
Once done, remove with tongs or slotted spoon and transfer onto a plate lined with paper towel or drain onto cooling rack swiftly to prevent extra greasing.
Adding Toppings
Once you’ve fried your sopes, it’s time to add toppings! Traditional toppings include refried beans, cheese, meat, and salsa, but you can get creative and add any fillings you like. Be mindful of your quantity and don’t overstuff the sopes. Here are a few ideas:
- Refried Beans
- Shredded chicken or beef
- Grilled vegetables
- Salsa or pico de gallo
- Cheese, crumbled feta or queso fresco work well
- Baking: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare sopes the same way as described above, brush them with some oil, and arrange them on a baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- Air Frying: Set the air fryer at a temperature of 375°F (190°C). Brush each sope with some oil before frying to achieve the crispy texture. Fry in batches for five minutes turning halfway through, until they’re fully cooked through.
- Griddle Pan: Heat up your griddle pan over medium-high heat. Brush some oil over it. Gently lift sopes onto the griddle once hot and let them cook until golden brown this usually takes around two-three minutes per side depending on the thickness.
- 1. Are store-bought sopes gluten-free? Yes, if they’re made only using masa harina (corn flour), they are gluten-free and safe for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
- 2. Can I use regular cornmeal instead of masa harina? No, using regular cornmeal won’t give you that traditional flavor required to make sopes. Masa harina has been treated with a specific process that gives it the appropriate flavor and texture needed for making sopes. So, it is recommended to use masa harina only.
- 3. Do I need a specific pan or skillet for frying sopes? You can use any deep fryer or deep skillet with high sides, as long as it’s big enough to hold the oil will suffice. Cast iron is the best option for its heat retention properties however non-stick or ceramic coated pans work too.
More filling suggestions include black beans seasoned in cumin or garlic herbs; diced avocado mixed with cherry tomatoes chilies; leftover roasted meat (lamb or pork) pulled apart and tossed in hot sauce; crispy crumbled bacon and zesty lime crema.
Alternatives to Frying
If you would like to avoid frying the sopes due to health reasons, there are other ways of cooking that may interest you:
Serving Suggestions
Once your sopes are prepared, they can be served as an appetizer or main dish alongside sides of black beans, fresh cilantro, sour cream, or guacamole. . To get creative and impress your guests you can serve several variations of sopes with different toppings and sauces, including mild tomato based salsa or hot chili sauce that will increase their visual appeal. This dish pairs best with tequila-based drinks such as margaritas and Sangria. However, if you prefer non-alcoholic drinks, consider serving it with refreshing Agua de jamaica (hibiscus water) or lemonade.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store your unused dough in an airtight container or wrap it with plastic wrap to keep it moist for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Fried sopes can last for several hours on the counter but be sure not to store any leftovers longer than one day because it’s considered unsafe so consume them before that time span.
If you plan to reheat them remember not to microwave them as this may cause them to lose their texture and flavor. Instead, preheat your oven to 325°F (162°C). Arrange your sopes onto a baking sheet into a single layer pouring some additional oil over them if required for moisture retention. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes until they’re heated through and restored back to crispy texture
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about cooking store-bought sopes that you may find helpful:
Conclusion
Cooking store-bought sopes can be a fun and delicious way to recreate authentic Mexican cuisine in your own kitchen. Always ensure that you have all of your ingredients and equipment ready, follow aforementioned steps for how to prepare dough, shape, fry, and add toppings wisely, but also let your creativity come alive by getting imaginative with what kind of toppings you choose to add.
Whether you plan on entertaining guests at home or just looking to enjoy a homemade meal, cooking store-bought sopes is an excellent way to explore new flavors and try something fresh and exciting!
Can I freeze store bought sopes?
Yes, you can. Simply layer them with parchment paper in an airtight container and put them in the freezer for up to a month.
Do I need to pre-cook the sopes before topping them?
No, the store bought sopes are already cooked. So, all you need to do is to add your desired toppings and place them in the oven for a few minutes until they are heated and crispy.
What toppings should I use for my sopes?
The sky is the limit when it comes to toppings for sopes. However, some popular options include refried beans, shredded chicken or beef, lettuce, sour cream, crumbled cheese, avocado, and salsa.
How long should I cook the sopes in the oven?
It depends on your oven’s temperature and the thickness of your sopes. Typically, it takes around 5-10 minutes in a preheated 375°F oven. Keep an eye on them and remove them from the oven once they are golden brown and crispy.
