Sopes

Sopes recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 6, Episode 10 "How I Got to Now"

📝 Ingredients

• 2 cups masa harina or corn tortilla flour (such as Maseca)
• 2 cups water (more if needed)
• Pinch kosher or coarse sea salt
• 1 cup refried beans
• 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
• 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or cotija
• 1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce
• 1 recipe Quick Roasted Tomatillo Salsita

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Heat a comal or skillet over medium heat until very hot.
2. 2--- To make the sopes: ---
3. 3Combine the masa harina, water and salt, kneading in a revolving motion with your hands. Knead for a couple of minutes, until dough is smooth and has no lumps. If it feels too dry, add a bit more water.
4. 4Divide the dough into 12 balls, each about 2-inches in diameter. Line the bottom of a tortilla press with circles cut from a thin plastic bag (like the ones from the produce section of your grocery store). One at a time, place a ball of dough onto the plastic lining the bottom of the tortilla press, and top with another layer of plastic. Press down to make a flat disk as thick as a pancake, about 1/4-inch thick (much thicker than a tortilla). You can also flatten and form them by hand. Repeat with all 12 balls.
5. 5As you make them, place each sope on the hot comal or skillet. Let them cook about one to two minutes on each side, until opaque and speckled, and they can be flipped without sticking.
6. 6Take them off the comal and place them on a chopping board. Using a kitchen towel to protect your fingers, make a rim around each sope by pressing and pinching with your fingers along the edges. Return them to the comal or skillet, and let them cook for one or two more minutes per side, until thoroughly cooked.
7. 7If eaten the same day, they may be kept wrapped in a clean kitchen towel. If not, wrap them in a kitchen towel or paper towel, and store inside a closed plastic bag in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 3 days, afterwards they will turn too hard. Reheat on hot comal or skillet for a couple minutes before eating. They can also be frozen and kept for months.
8. 8--- To serve: ---
9. 9Once the sopes have been thoroughly cooked and warmed, place on a platter and add a generous tablespoon of refried beans, shredded lettuce, crumbled cheese, chopped onion and Quick Roasted Salsita. Salsa may be left on the side for people to add as much as they like.