Sopes de Frijol con Lechuga y Salsa de Aguacate (Bean Sopes)
Thick little masa cups with a pinched rim, fried and filled with beans, lettuce, radish and creamy avocado salsa.
Made with Creamy avocado salsa and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.13 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the masa harina, salt and warm water into a soft dough. Add the 2 tbsp oil and knead for 1 minute. Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
- 2
Divide into 8 balls. Press each into a thick disc about 8 cm across and 1 cm thick. Cook in a dry hot pan for 1 minute each side until just set but still pale.
2 min - 3
While warm, pinch the edge of each disc up with your fingers to make a low rim around a shallow well.
- 4
Heat the shallow frying oil in a frying pan over a medium high heat. Fry the sopes, well side up first, for 2 minutes. Turn and fry the other side for 1 to 2 minutes until golden. Drain on kitchen paper.
4 min - 5
Fill each sope with warm refried beans from your base recipe.
- 6
Top with lettuce, radish and red onion and spoon over your ready made creamy avocado salsa (see the base recipe). Eat while warm.
Tips
- Pinch the rim while the discs are still warm from the dry pan. Cold masa cracks.
- Keep the dough soft. If the edges crack when you press, knead in a spoon of water.
- Pre make the sope shells earlier in the day, then fry just before serving.
Storing and freezing
Keep the dry cooked discs in an airtight tub in the fridge for 2 days, then fry. Filled sopes do not keep. Reheat beans until steaming hot.
Questions
What is the difference between sopes and tostadas?
Sopes are thick, soft masa bases with a pinched edge that hold toppings. Tostadas are flat, thin and crisp.
Can I add meat?
Yes. Shredded chicken, chorizo or tinga are all common toppings. Add them between the beans and the lettuce.
Can I use shop bought tortillas?
No, sopes need a thick dough. Masa harina is in the world foods aisle of most big supermarkets or online.
More made with creamy avocado salsa
Tostadas de Chorizo con Papa (Chorizo and Potato Tostadas with Avocado Salsa)
GFDFEFTacos de Camarón al Achiote (Citrus Achiote Prawn Tacos)
DFEFNFTacos Gobernador (Sinaloa Prawn and Cheese Tacos)
EFNFTacos de Pescado a la Plancha con Salsa de Aguacate (Griddled Fish Tacos)
GFDFEFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.