Corn Masa Sopes Recipe (Vegan, Vegetarian, or Omnivore Options)

Sopes are an easy vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore dinner option from Mexico. The base is a fried masa patty, which you can top with anything you like.

Corn Masa Sopes with Bean, Corn, and Onions Yum

Serves 4

Estimated time: 45 - 60 minutes

Dough: Makes 8 thin patties or 4 thick patties

1 ¼ cup corn masa or corn flour (not corn meal)

1 ¼ cup warm water, divided, or as needed

1 Tablespoon oil and more for frying

1. Mix together ingredients in a bowl until dough holds together. I recommend adding the water in ½ cup or ¼ cup increments and stopping when the dough can be formed into a ball.

2. Take a handful of dough and form into a patty. Thinner patties will be crunchier when fried and thicker patties will remain doughy inside.

3. Heat oil in a frying pan on the stove over medium heat. I recommend deep-frying, but you can fry in a shallow amount of oil.

4. Cook for 5 minutes, or until golden on both sides, flipping halfway through cooking.

5. Remove from oil. Place on paper towels to absorb grease. 

Topping:

1 Tablespoon oil

1/4 cup onion, diced, or to taste

1/2 cup corn kernels, rinsed and drained if canned, or to taste

1 - 15.5 oz. can kidney beans, pinto beans, or red beans, rinsed and drained

Chili powder, to taste

Paprika, to taste

1. Heat oil in a sauté pan on the stove over medium heat or use a nonstick pan. Add diced onion and cook until starts to brown.

2. Add corn kernels, kidney beans, chili powder, and paprika.  Cook until heated through.

3. To serve, place a sope patty on the plate, top with the bean mixture. Add cheese or sour cream, if desired.

Vegetarian Option: Top with shredded cheese and sour cream or crema mexicana. 
Omnivore options: Lay cooked chicken on the sope patties before adding the beans.

Nutrition information for 1/4 of vegan version: 354 Calories, 9 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 9 mg cholesterol, 58 g carbohydrates, 11 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 14 g protein.

Tell me how your family enjoyed these. Did you add other vegetables or meats?