Best Sopes Recipes

SOPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• Put the masa harina in a large bowl, pour in the water and get in there with your hands, kneading until you have a uniform dough. It should take only a minute or two. You want a nice, moist dough, so work in a little more warm water if it's dry. If it's sticky, work in a little more masa harina.
• Break the dough into four equal pieces and roll each one into a ball. Put the balls on a plate or cutting board and cover them with plastic wrap to keep the dough from drying out. One at a time, roll them out with a rolling pin or clean wine bottle until they're a thin circle about 1/4-inch thick. Brush a little of the vegetable oil on a skillet or comal and heat it over medium-high heat until it's good and hot. Carefully add the first sope and cook it until little brown blisters appear on the bottom, about 45 seconds. Flip it over with a spatula and cook for another 30 to 45 seconds. Flip it over again, count to 10 and transfer to the towel-lined baking sheet. Keep it warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining 3 sopes (adding a little more oil if you need to), and keep them in the oven until you're ready to serve them.
• Pour a couple of tablespoons of the oil into a skillet and add the chile, garlic and onions. Set the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the huitlacoche (or mushrooms) along with a good pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the huitlacoche is heated through, about 5 minutes (or until the mushrooms are a little browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes). Take the mixture off the heat and stir in the cilantro.
• Arrange your sopes on a platter. Cover with a thin layer of Roasted Tomato-Chile de Arbol Salsa, the huitlacoche or mushrooms, a drizzle of the crema fresca and a sprinkle of queso fresco. Serve the remaining salsa on the side.
• Preheat the boiler.
• Put the tomatoes on a baking sheet and broil until the tomatoes are nice and charred, 10 to 12 minutes. Take the tomatoes out, let them cool just until you can handle them, slip off the skins and cut out the tough cores. Transfer the tomatoes to a big bowl (don't you dare forget the tomato juice that has leaked out and reduced to awesomeness on the baking sheet), and then roughly chop them.
• While the tomatoes are broiling, heat a dry skillet over medium heat and toast the chiles (in batches, if necessary), flipping them over occasionally, until they just begin to smoke, about 5 minutes. Set them aside in a bowl.
• Put the olive oil, garlic and onions in a saucepan, set it over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 7 minutes. Add the toasted chiles, tomatoes and 2 cups water, bring to a simmer and cook for another 12 minutes, so the flavors come together. Let it cool a bit.
• Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender. Add the cilantro, salt and pepper and puree until the mixture is very smooth. Pour the mixture through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Store the salsa in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to a week, or in the freezer for a month.

SOPES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine masa harina and salt; stir in water. Knead until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough into 16 portions; shape into balls and cover with plastic wrap. , Working between two sheets of plastic wrap, press four balls into 3-1/2-in. circles. On an ungreased griddle, cook dough circles over medium-low heat for 1-2 minutes or until bottoms are lightly set. Turn and cook 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat; quickly pinch edge of circles to form a 1/2-in. rim. Return to the griddle; cook 2 minutes longer or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks; cover. Repeat with remaining dough., In a small saucepan, combine chicken and 1/2 cup salsa. Cook over medium-low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally. In a large skillet, melt shortening. Cook sopes over medium-high heat for 2 minutes on each side or until crisp and lightly browned. Remove to paper towels to drain. , To assemble, layer each sope with refried beans, chicken mixture and remaining salsa. Sprinkle with lettuce and queso fresco. Serve immediately.

CARNE ADOVADA SOPES

Steps:

• In a large shallow dish, combine 1 cup broth, chili powder, vinegar, cilantro, honey and seasonings. Add the pork; turn to coat. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight., In an ovenproof Dutch oven, brown pork in 4 tablespoons oil in batches. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, saute onions in remaining oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes longer., Return pork to pan; add remaining broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Cover and bake at 350° until meat is tender, 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours. With a slotted spoon, remove meat to a large bowl. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Bring to a boil over high heat; cook until slightly thickened and reduced to about 2 cups, stirring occasionally. Return meat to pan; set aside and keep warm., For sopes, in a large bowl, combine masa harina and salt; stir in water. Knead until smooth, adding additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if necessary. Divide into 12 portions, about 1/4 cup each. Roll each to form a ball; flatten to 4-in. patty. Cover with plastic wrap., Heat a large ungreased skillet over medium heat until hot. Cook sopes in batches until lightly browned, about 1 minute on each side. Remove from pan. Immediately pinch edges to form a 1/2-in. rim; set aside., To serve, in same skillet, cook sopes in hot oil in batches over medium-high heat until golden brown and slightly crisp, 15-30 seconds on each side. Drain on paper towels. Using a slotted spoon, place pork on sopes; serve with toppings of your choice.

CORN-FLOUR PATTIES (SOPES)

Steps:

• Mix flours, baking powder, and salt, and add the warm water. You may need a little more warm water to make moist, smooth dough.
• Traditional sopes forming method: Make balls the size of a walnut, a few at a time, and keep the dough in a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out. Moisten a cloth napkin or tea towel and spread out on a flat surface. Roll each ball of dough in moistened palm of you hand until smooth, lay on the damp towel, cover with a plastic bag, and press down with your hand to flatten to the size of a silver dollar. To shape the patty, flatten again with a small can or flat-bottomed glass into a perfectly smooth circle 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. It should be about 1/4-inch thick. Peel the plastic bag off the top, then lay the tortilla in your hand and peel off the damp cloth. Smooth any rough edges with your fingers and the tortilla is ready to fry.
• Quick sopes forming method: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out sopes. Re-roll unused dough.
• Heat a cast iron skillet and add enough canola oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When hot, slide the patties into the hot oil and fry until they are a light golden brown and slightly crisp on top, about 1 minute on each side. Drain on paper towels and make a slit on the side as soon as they have cooled enough to handle. Fill with chorizo and potatoes filling. These do not keep well; they must be eaten immediately.
• Begin by cooking potatoes in a pot of water, when tender remove and set aside. In a large saute pan add a little oil. While shaking, add chorizo and cook for 4 minutes. When crispy, add garlic, onion, and all the peppers. Cook for 8 minutes. At that point, add the chicken stock and cook for 3 more minutes. Then add the potatoes, cilantro, and scallions; cook for 3 minutes more and season with salt and pepper to taste. Use for stuffing sopes.

MEXICAN SOPES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix the masa flour and ½ cup (120 ml) of water together with your hands. Once combined, add the rest of the water and knead until the dough forms a smooth ball.
• Heat a large pan or griddle over medium-high heat.
• Pat the dough out into 6 flat circles.
• Fry the dough, turning frequently, until just lightly brown about 5 minutes.
• Once the dough is cooked, shape the sopes by pinching the sides up to form a wall around the edge. Set aside to cool.
• Rip the stems off the dried chiles and discard the seeds. Rinse the chiles, if necessary.
• 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.
• Transfer the chiles and their cooking liquid to a blender and add 1 teaspoon of salt and the garlic. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
• 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 (120 ml) of the tomato water.
• Transfer the tomatoes to a blender with the reserved cooking liquid, oregano, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
• 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, flipping frequently until seared and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the meat to a cutting board and cut into small pieces. Set aside.
• Heat the corn oil in a deep, large pan over high heat.
• Dip the sopes in the chile sauce, turning to coat completely.
• Once the oil is hot, fry the sopes, flipping frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Drain the sopes on paper towels or a wire rack.
• To serve, fill the sopes with refried beans, carne asada, shredded lettuce, tomato sauce, Mexican crema, and queso fresco.
• Enjoy!

SOPES

Steps:

• Mix the masa and water together into a smooth consistency for about 3 to 5 minutes. If working in large amounts cover bowl with a damp towel to keep from drying out.
• Take a piece of the dough about the side of a cue ball, and roll into a firm ball. In a tortilla press or with a hard flat book or cutting board, line with 2 pieces of plastic. Place masa ball in the middle and apply pressure until ball pushes out to 4 to 5-inch diameter. (if edges of patty are cracked deeply the dough maybe too dry or if the patty does not remove from the plastic easily the dough maybe too moist.)
• Heat a cast iron pan to very hot. Place masa patty on pan without any oil, brown on both sides, approximately 1 minute on each side. Remove and let cool.
• While still warm, remove the center of the dough, and form the edges up, making a hollow tart like shell.
• Heat 1-inch of canola oil to 350 degrees F. Add sope shells to oil and cook on both sides until crispy and golden brown. Hold warm for service.

SOPES WITH CHORIZO REFRIED BEANS AND A TANGY SLAW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the oil in a large pot and heat to 350 degrees F.
• For the sopes: Mix the masa harina, chicken stock, cumin and salt and form a soft dough. To form the sopes, grab a small ball of dough and form mini "soup bowls" about 4 inches in diameter. Repeat until all the dough has been used. Place on a sheet tray and bake in the oven for 5 minutes, just to set the dough. Set aside until ready to fry.
• For the beans: In the meantime, pull the sausage from the casings and break apart. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the sausage, breaking it up in the pan, and cook until the fat starts rendering, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and garlic to the pan and sweat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the pinto beans and cook for another 5 minutes. Using a potato masher, mash the beans into the chorizo mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan. Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes until everything is incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Hold warm over low heat, making sure the bottom doesn't burn.
• For the slaw: In a dry skillet, toast the fennel until fragrant and set aside. In a bowl, mix lime juice, jalapenos, cucumber, cabbage, cilantro and onions. Season with salt and pepper and add the toasted fennel. Let stand to bring the flavors together.
• For the chile sauce: In a dry pan, toast the chiles until fragrant, remove and set aside. Return the pan to medium heat, add the olive oil, onions and garlic. Sweat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Mince the chiles and add them with the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and simmer, about10 minutes. Let the mixture cool a bit, then add to a blender and puree until smooth.
• To assemble: Carefully drop the sopes into the hot oil, 2 at a time, and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove and hold on a paper towel-lined sheet tray. Repeat with the remaining sopes.
• Take a sope and layer with the chorizo and bean mixture, then the slaw and drizzle the tomato chile sauce over the top. Serve with lime wedges as garnish, if desired.

SOPES WITH SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• For the shredded beef: Put the beef, lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, coriander and garlic in a large Dutch oven, or heavy-bottomed pot, and add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue cooking on a gentle simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Once the beef is tender, let it cool slightly in the braising liquid and then shred with two forks, while still in the pot, so as to let all the shredded beef soak up the delicious sauce.
• For the tomatillo guacamole: Combine the cilantro, tomatillos, garlic, avocado, jalapeno, onion, lime juice, cumin and salt in a food processor or blender and pulse until combined.
• For the sopes: Combine the masa harina, flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and slowly add the warm water while incorporating the dry ingredients using a stiff spatula. Once the dough comes together, transfer it to a floured surface and knead it by hand until it is smooth and not crumbly, about 5 minutes.
• Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and then cut it into 2-inch circles with a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass; you should get 36 circles. Re-roll and re-cut scraps of dough until all of it is used. Create a ridge around the edge of each sope using your thumb, and working from the center outwards. You are trying to make a small well for the toppings to rest in once the dough is fried.
• Fill a cast-iron skillet with 1 1/2 inches of vegetable oil and heat to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, fry the sopes until their edges are crispy and just starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer the sopes to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt as they come out of the oil.
• For the toppings: Melt the butter in a skillet, then add the refried beans. Stir to warm through and loosen the mixture. Set aside. Mix the pickled jalapenos and tomatoes and set them aside.
• Fill each sope with a layer of beans, followed by some shredded beef and a little tomatillo guacamole. Top each with some of the cabbage, tomato-jalapeno mixture, crema, cotija and cilantro.

CRISPY POTATO SOPES WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HERB SALAD

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, boil potatoes in salted water to cover until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain, and cool. Push potatoes through a sieve into a bowl. Scrape potatoes into a 1-cup measuring cup, and discard the rest. Return potatoes to bowl. Knead in the masa or masa harina. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt.
• Heat a griddle or heavy skillet over medium heat. Divide the dough into 18 balls slightly larger than golf balls, and cover with plastic to keep from drying out. If the balls crack when you are rolling them, knead a few drops of water into the dough to give them the consistency of a soft cookie dough. Cut two sheets of plastic (preferably from heavy-weight food-storage bags) into 6-inch squares.
• One by one, form the fat little tortillas that will become the sopes: With your hands, gently press out a ball of the dough between the sheets of plastic into a 2 1/2-inch circle (it should be about 1/4 inch thick). Peel off the top sheet. Use your thumb and first finger to pinch up the dough into a border about 1/2 inch high around the edge to form a little boat. Flip the tortilla -- uncovered side down -- onto the fingers of one hand, then gently peel off the second piece of plastic. In one flowing movement, roll the tortilla off your hand and onto the griddle or skillet. After about 50 seconds, when the tortilla has loosened itself from the cooking surface, remove it from the griddle; this is just to set the surface of the tortilla, not cook the masa all the way through. While the first tortilla is cooking, continue pressing out others and adding them to the griddle or skillet. After cooking, pierce the bottoms with a fork, taking care not to poke them all the way through. Slip the cooled sopes into a plastic bag, or cover them to keep from drying out.
• Fill a heavy skillet with 1/2 inch oil; heat oil to 375 degrees. Turn on the oven to its lowest setting, and set out a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain the sopes. Stir the balsamic vinegar into the salsa, and set out the herbs and crumbled cheese. A few at a time, fry the sopes until they are a rich golden brown, 50 to 60 seconds. Drain them upside down on the paper towels. As the sopes are fried, keep them warm in the oven.
• When all of the sopes have been fried, arrange them on a serving platter. Spoon about 1/2 tablespoon salsa into each one, top with a tuft of herbs, and sprinkle generously with cheese. Serve immediately.

SOPES

Steps:

• Pour masa and salt into a bowl, add in enough water to moisten masa. Masa should be slightly sticky to the touch.
• Form masa into balls the size of a large egg. Once all are formed into balls cover with a damp towel.
• Place a piece of plastic wrap on the tortilla press or your kitchen counter. Place the ball of masa in then center. Cover with the other piece of plastic. Press down on the tortilla press or using a flat bottomed plate or skillet until the tortilla is formed and about 1/4 inch thick.
• Heat a griddle or comal on medium high, cook each sope for 1 minute. Flip and cook for another 30 seconds, once you take the sope off the comal, place it on a dry towel and on the side you cooked first, pinch from the inside of the sope to the edge to form a rim all around the sope, this will look like a tostada with a 1/2 edge around.
• Once all sopes are cooked and formed cover them with a dry towel. Heat oil in a pan or deep fryer to 350 degrees. Fry each sope on both sides for 3 minutes. Place them on paper towels to blot off some of the extra oil.
• Serve topped with beans or meat of your choice, and then top with your choice of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, crumbly cheese such as cotija or crema.
• Note: See Recipe #378725 for a good recipe for shredded chicken as pictured above.

MEXICAN SOPES

Steps:

• Combine masa harina, flour, and salt in a bowl. Stir water and egg into the masa mixture; add melted shortening and mix well to form dough.
• Gently knead dough until moist but retains shape; transfer to a bowl, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Divide chilled dough into 15 portions. Roll 1 portion of dough into a ball, while keeping remaining dough covered to prevent it from drying. On a lightly floured work surface, pat ball into a 3-inch round. Pinch along the edges of the round to make a ridge. Repeat with remaining dough portions.
• Pour enough oil into a skillet to be about 1/2-inch deep; heat to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Fry a couple shells in hot oil at a time until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove sopes from oil using a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel. Add more oil as needed and reheat between batches.

CRISPY POTATO SOPES (MASA BOATS) WITH SALSA, GOAT CHEESE, AND HERBS RECIPE RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• The dough for the Sopes: In a medium pan, boil the potatoes in salted water to cover until thoroughly tender, about 25 minutes. Drain and cool. Push the potatoes through a ricer or medium-mesh strainer into a bowl. Scrape the potatoes into a measuring cup. Discard about 1 cup of the potatoes, return 1 cup to the bowl and knead in the masa (fresh or reconstituted) and ¾ teaspoon salt. The dough should be the consistency of soft cookie dough. Forming and baking the sopes: Heat a well-seasoned or nonstick griddle or heavy skillet over medium. Divide the dough into 18 portions, roll into balls and cover with plastic to keep them from drying out. One by one, form the fat little tortillas that will become the sopes: cut two squares of plastic (to be on the safe side, cut them from a food storage bag, the thicker plastic works better). With your hands, gently flatten a ball of dough between the sheets of plastic to about 2 ½ inches in diameter (it should be about 1/4" thick). Peel off the top sheet of plastic. Use your thumb and index finger to push up the dough into a border about ½" high around the edge to form the sope, the little boat. Flip the sope-uncovered side down-onto the fingers of one hand, then gently peel off the second piece of plastic. Now, flip the sope over onto the griddle or skillet, flat side down. After about a minute, when the sope has loosened itself from the cooking surface, remove it from the griddle. This cooking is just to set the bottom surface, not to cook the masa all the way through. While the first sope is cooking, continue shaping and adding others to the griddle or skillet. After cooking, to keep them from puffing oddly during frying, prick the bottoms of each one with a fork, being careful not to go all the way through. Cool, then cover the sopes with plastic to keep them from drying out. Finishing the sopes: In a deep heavy medium skillet or saucepan, heat ½" of oil to 350 degrees (if you do not have a thermometer you can judge the temperature by dipping the side of a sope in the oil-if it sizzles vigorously, it's ready). Stir in the balsamic vinegar (if using) into the salsa and set out the herbs and crumbled cheese. A few at a time, fry the sopes until they are a rich golden brown, about a minute. Drain them upside down on paper towels, then keep them warm in the oven. When all the sopes are done, arrange them on a serving platter. Spoon about ½ Tbs of salsa onto each one, top with herbs and sprinkle generously with cheese.

SOPES WITH SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• For the shredded beef:.
• Put the beef, lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, coriander and garlic in a large Dutch oven, or heavy-bottomed pot, and add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue cooking on a gentle simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Once the beef is tender, let it cool slightly in the braising liquid and then shred with two forks, while still in the pot, so as to let all the shredded beef soak up the delicious sauce.
• For the tomatillo guacamole:.
• Combine the cilantro, tomatillos, garlic, avocado, jalapeno, onion, lime juice, cumin and salt in a food processor or blender and pulse until combined.
• For the sopes:.
• Combine the masa harina, flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and slowly add the warm water while incorporating the dry ingredients using a stiff spatula. Once the dough comes together, transfer it to a floured surface and knead it by hand until it is smooth and not crumbly, about 5 minutes.
• Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and then cut it into 2-inch circles with a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass; you should get 36 circles. Re-roll and re-cut scraps of dough until all of it is used. Create a ridge around the edge of each sope using your thumb, and working from the center outwards. You are trying to make a small well for the toppings to rest in once the dough is fried.
• Fill a cast-iron skillet with 1 1/2 inches of vegetable oil and heat to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, fry the sopes until their edges are crispy and just starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer the sopes to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt as they come out of the oil.
• For the toppings:.
• Melt the butter in a skillet, then add the refried beans. Stir to warm through and loosen the mixture. Set aside. Mix the pickled jalapenos and tomatoes and set them aside.
• Fill each sope with a layer of beans, followed by some shredded beef and a little tomatillo guacamole. Top each with some of the cabbage, tomato-jalapeno mixture, crema, cotija and cilantro.

OVEN BAKED SOPES W/ ZUCCHINI-CORN FILLING

Steps:

• Sopes.
• 1. preheat oven 350 line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• 2. whisk together masa harina parmesan cheese if using, baking powder and salt in bowl. stir in 2 1/2 cups hot water until mixture forms soft dough. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir egg, then oil into dough.
• 3. Roll 1/4 cup dough into ball. Press into 3 inch disk on prepared baking sheet pinching together any cracked edges. Press indentation in center of disk using a small drinking class then shape 1/2 inch edge around indentation with your fingers. repeat with remaining dough.
• 4. Bake 10 minutes or until sopes begin to look dry. Sprinkle each indentation with 2 tsp grated monterey Jack cheese. return to oven and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted. Top with Zucchini-corn filling or Pico de Gallo.
• Zucchini-corn Filling.
• Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute 7 minutes.
• Add zucchini and corn and saute 7 minutes more.
• Stir in beans and cook 2 minutes.
• Stir in cilantro and lime juice.
• Spoon into Sopes or tacos and sprinkle with chili powder and cheese if using.

SALSA VERDE CHICKEN SOPES RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Add yellow onions; cook and stir 3 min. Add garlic and chicken; cook 3 min., stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup salsa; cook 2 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently. Keep warm.
• Mix masa harina, salt and water until mixture forms soft dough. Divide into 8 pieces; flatten each to 4-inch round. Heat large skillet or comal on medium-high heat. Add sopes, in batches; cook 2 min. or until each is lightly browned on both sides, turning every 30 sec. Use your thumb and forefinger to make 1/4-inch-high rim around edge of each sope.
• Combine remaining salsa and sour cream; spoon over sopes. Top with chicken mixture, cheese and green onions.

SOPES

Steps:

• Put the masa harina in a bowl and add the warm water, reserving about 1/4 cup of water until you see how much the flour will absorb. Work well with your hands until smooth. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside in a cool spot for about 1 hour. This gives the starch particles time to swell and absorb the moisture thoroughly, giving more flexibility to the dough. Alternatively, make the Dried Corn Tortilla Masa (see recipe).
• Work the masa until very soft and smooth, and divide into 12 equal parts. Roll each into a ball about 1 1/4 inches in diameter and cover with a damp cloth while you work. Warm an ungreased comal over medium heat.
• Take 1 of the balls and press out gently in a lined tortilla press or by hand to a disk about 3 1/2 inches; it will be thicker than a tortilla, about 1/4-inch. Place carefully on the comal and cook over medium to low heat until the underside is opaque and speckled with brown, about 2 minutes. Turn the sope over and cook on the second side for a further 2 minutes. Remove from the comal and immediately (although you may burn your fingers a little) pinch up the dough around the periphery of the sope, return it to the comal, and cook briefly until the dough is firm and cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Continue with the rest of the balls.
• Heat a very small amount of the lard or oil in a skillet and let the sopes heat through for about 1/2 minute on each side. Spread with the bean paste and top liberally with the rest of the ingredients. Serve immediately.
• Heat the lard in a heavy 10-inch skillet, add the onion and fry over medium heat without browning, until translucent, about 30 seconds. Gradually add the beans and their broth and continue cooking over fairly high heat, mashing them down to a paste texture, about 10 minutes.
• Melt the lard in a small skillet. Skin and crumble the chorizo into the pan, and cook over low heat until the fat has been rendered out. Add the potatoes and chile, if using, and continue cooking over medium heat, scraping the bottom of the skillet from time to time to avoid sticking, until well seasoned, about 8 minutes. Season with salt. Set aside to cool a little before using.
• Crush or blend the garlic, chiles and salt to a paste. Gradually add the tomatoes (unpeeled), grinding well after each addition. The sauce should be textured and the skin will never all completely disappear.
• Sprinkle the top with the onion and cilantro and serve.
• Chiles Asado:
• Place the whole chilies on an ungreased griddle over medium heat and turn them from time to time until the flesh is fairly soft; there will be brownish patches on the skin and the color will have faded somewhat. Then, if they are to be ground with other ingredients, chop roughly before blending. *
• Tomatoes Asados:
• The whole tomatoes are cooked on a ungreased comal or griddle until they are slightly charred and mushy to guarantee a specially delicious table or cooked sauce. About half the cooks I know then skin the tomatoes, while others, including me, blend them unskinned. While the appearance of the sauce may not be as attractive, the flavor and texture are incomparable. This method of cooking tomatoes is particularly recommended for freezing and storing for the months when tomatoes are not at their best (not a problem in Mexico).
• You may want to broil them in a more practical way. Choose a shallow pan in which the tomatoes will just fit in 1 layer, not too large or the juice that is exuded will dry up. (I used to line the pan with foil, but no longer. It is high time that we gradually ease foil out of the kitchen or use it very, very sparingly. The mining of bauxite for the production of aluminum has destroyed far too many tropical forests on this planet.) Place the pan about 2 inches below a heated broiler and broil until the top halves of the tomatoes are soft and the skin is blistered and slightly browned. Turn the tomatoes over and repeat on the other side. The exuded juice will be sweet and syrupy so save it to blend with the tomatoes.

EASY MEXICAN SOPES

Steps:

• Whisk masa harina and salt together; stir enough water into mixture until dough is smooth and holds together. Form dough into 2-inch balls. Flatten each ball to a 1/2-inch thick circle.
• Heat oil to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) in a deep-fryer or large saucepan.
• Fry dough in the hot oil until sopes are just lightly browned, about 30 seconds per side. Remove sopes with tongs and place on a paper towel-lined plate; cool just until sopes can be handled. Pinch the edges of each sope together forming little 'boats'. Return to hot oil and fry until golden and cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes.

BLACK BEAN SOPES

Steps:

• Slice the polenta in half crosswise. Then slice each half into 6 rounds, about 1/2-inch thick, so that you have 12 rounds total.
• Heat the canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Gently slide each polenta round into the hot oil using a spatula. If your pan is not large enough then fry 6 at a time. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel-lined sheet tray.
• In a medium bowl, combine the beans, salsa and the 2 teaspoons hot sauce. Mash the beans with a fork or potato masher.
• In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, remaining 1 tablespoon hot sauce and the lime juice and mix until well blended.
• Build the sopes by spreading about 2 tablespoons mashed black beans on top of a fried polenta round. Top with a small amount of shredded lettuce and about 1 tablespoon of the salsa and drizzle with some of the sour cream mixture.

SOPES TAPATIOS

Steps:

• For the Shells: If using the masa harina mix with the hot water, cover and let stand 25 minutes.
• Mix the masa with the lard, flour, salt and baking powder, kneading until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
• If needed adjust the consistency of the dough with a little water.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal balls.
• Place them on a plate and cover with plastic wrap.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
• Cut a square of heavy plastic and lay it out in front of you.
• Flatten one of the balls onto it, then gently pat and press it into a evenly flat disc, about 3/8 inch thick and 2 and 1/2 inches in diameter.
• With the fat little tortilla still on the plastic, flip it over onto one hand, dough side down and peel off the plastic.
• Lay the tortilla on the hot skillet and bake for about 2 minutes per side, until lightly browned.
• It will still be soft and uncooked inside.
• Pat out and bake the remaining masa balls in the same way.
• With a thin sharp knife slice each tortilla in half.
• With the cooked side down pinch up a 1/4 inch high border around each disc, molding the uncooked masa from the center.
• Cover with plastic and set aside.
• For the Filling: 1/2 hour before eating heat the beans, you want them the consistency of thick bean soup, so simmer them down if needed.
• In a small skillet heat 1 T.
• oil over medium heat.
• Add the chorizo and cook, breaking up any pieces.
• When cooked drain off fat and cover with foil-place in oven to keep warm.
• Frying the shells: Add the oil to a heavy skilled 3/4 of an inch deep.
• Fry the shells 4 at a time until lightly browned.
• Drain on paper towels then place in a cast iron skilled and keep warm on the oven-repeat until shells are done.
• Finishing the Dish: Layer in this order- Shell 2 t's beans 1 heaping t.
• chorizo 1 T.
• tomatillo sauce 1 t.
• cheese a little lettuce 2 radish slices Serve.

SOPES (CORN CAKES) WITH PORK FILLING

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbsp. of the oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Add meat, epazote and seasonings; mix well. Cover. Cook 8 to 10 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream.
• Brush sopes evenly with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil. Cook on hot griddle for 2 min. on each side or until lightly browned on both sides.
• Top each sope with about 1/4 cup of the pork mixture. Serve immediately.