Sopes de pollo (chicken sopes)

Sopes de pollo are a delicious Mexican treat perfect to serve as a starter or as a main dish. A delicious chicken mixture with is used to fill a sope and then top it with a mild-spicy tomato and chipotle sauce, cream and lots of cheese.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 small chicken breasts (about 7 oz each)
• 1/2 medium onion
• 1 celery stick (cut into chunks)
• 1 carrot (cut into chunks)
• 1 small potato (peeled)
• 1 garlic clove (skin on)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 rosemary string
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder (or fresh, chopped)
• 1 Tbsp sweet paprika
• salt
• 15 oz pinto beans (1 can)
• 3 medium tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1 garlic clove (peeled)
• 16 sopes
• 3 cups lettuce (shredded)
• 1 cup white onions (diced)
• 2/3 cup radishes (finely sliced)
• 1 1/2 cup Mexican crema
• 1 cup Cotija or queso fresco cheese (crumbled)
• oil for frying

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Make the chicken mixture ---
2. 2Place chicken, carrots, celery, onion and potato in a pot. Add garlic, bay leaf, rosemary and salt then cover with water. Cook until chicken is tender.
3. 3Remove chicken while is still hot and place it in a bowl. Shreed it using two forks and set aside.
4. 4Heat olive oil in a medium pan, pour in the tomato sauce and 1 ½ cup fo water. Add cumin, pepper, oregano, garlic, paprika, chili flakes and salt. Mix well and simmer for 2 minutes.
5. 5Add shredded chicken, mix thoroughly and cook for about 5 minutes or until there’s almost not juices left.
6. 6--- Make the beans ---
7. 7Place cooked beans on a food processor. Blend until you’ll have a smooth puree.
8. 8Add bean’s puree in a small pan over medium heat. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated and beans will have a spreadable texture.
9. 9--- Make tomato & chipotle salsa ---
10. 10Place tomatoes on a hot griddle or a cast-iron skillet. Grill until charred spots appear and the tomatoes are soft.
11. 11Let tomatoes slightly cool down and then place them on a blender. Add garlic, salt, a pinch of cumin, and chipotle chilies.
12. 12Blend until you desired consistency and then set aside.
13. 13--- Assemble the sopes ---
14. 14Heat some frying oil in a frying pan and lightly fry the sopes. Put them on a plate with a paper napkin to discard excess oil.
15. 15Place the sopes on a large plate and spread some beans first.
16. 16Add some of the chicken mixture on top and then some chopped onion, lettuce and radishes.
17. 17Pour with tomato salsa, then add cream and finish with crumbled cheese. Serve immediately.