sopes

Makes 10-12 small sopes

INGREDIENTS

Seasoned Meat:

1 lb ground or shredded beef, carnitas, or baked tilapia or cod fillets, pre-cooked

Vegetarian Alternative:

1 can (16 oz) seasoned or refried beans, warmed or diced sweet potatoes and black beans, pre-cooked

Cilantro Lime Slaw:

1 small green or red cabbage, shredded (about 4 cups)

juice of 1-2 limes (start with 1, add more to taste)

1/3 cup cilantro, chopped

dash of salt

Fried Masa Base:

1 1/2 cups instant yellow corn masa flour (e.g., Maseca Amarillo)

1 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup warm water

1 pint to 1 quart frying oil (vegetable or canola), depending on size of pan

Topping Ideas:

queso fresco or cotija, crumbled

sour cream

salsa

avocado, sliced

red or watermelon radishes, thinly sliced

cilantro

STEPS

  1. Prepare choice of protein. My top choice for sopes is slow cooked carnitas, but beans or seasoned beef are a tasty, time-saving alternative. This will be the first layer of the sope before additional toppings.

  2. Make the slaw by combining prepared cabbage, lime juice, cilantro, and salt in a bowl and massaging together just until integrated. Cover and place in the refrigerator.

  3. Make the fried masa base. Combine the masa and salt in a bowl and mix together. Add water as you stir to firm a dough. Finish forming the dough with your hands, then separate into 10 to 12 small dough balls (roughly 2 tablespoons). Flatten into rounds, no more than 1/2 inch thick.

  4. Begin heating oil to 400F in a frying pan or pot (you may need more than a pint of oil if your pan is wide - just enough to submerge the sopes and cook evenly on both sides). Meanwhile, heat the dough rounds on a dry skillet or griddle for 1 minute on each side.

  5. Form little "boats” by pinching up sides of dough - carefully, they will be hot! Then, submerge sopes in the hot oil for 2 minutes. Use tongs to remove them from the oil and place on paper-towel lined plate. Cover with a tea towel to keep warm until all the dough has been fried.

  6. Assemble the sopes by topping with meat, beans, slaw, and any additional toppings you’d like. These are best eaten immediately.

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