Sopes de Frijol y Queso (Thick Masa Cups with Beans and Cheese)
Little pinched masa discs fried until crisp-edged, then piled with refried beans, cheese, lettuce and crema.
Made with Lime crema (Mexican soured cream sauce) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.72 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 and salt, then add the warm water and knead for 2 minutes into a soft, springy dough like play dough. Cover and rest for 10 minutes.
10 min - 2
Roll into 12 balls. Press each between two sheets of baking paper to a 9 cm disc about 6 mm thick.
- 3
Cook the discs on a dry, medium-hot frying pan for 1 minute per side until set but still pale. Cover with a tea towel while you cook the rest.
2 min - 4
While they are still warm, pinch up a 1 cm rim around the edge of each with your fingertips. Be careful, they are hot.
- 5
Heat the oil in the pan and fry the sopes for 1 to 2 minutes per side until the base is golden and the rim crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.
3 min - 6
Warm your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe). Spread on each sope, then add lettuce, tomato, queso fresco and a spoonful of your ready made lime crema (see the base recipe).
Tips
- Masa harina is sold with the Mexican ingredients in larger supermarkets; ordinary cornflour will not work.
- Pinch the rim while the discs are still warm. Once cold they crack.
- Cook the discs ahead and fry just before serving for the crispiest edge.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. The cooked, unfried discs keep 2 days chilled; fry and top when needed. Topped sopes do not keep well.
Questions
What is the difference between sopes and tostadas?
Sopes are thick masa discs with a pinched rim that hold toppings, soft inside and crisp outside. Tostadas are thin flat tortillas fried until crunchy all the way through.
Can I use a tortilla press?
Yes. Line the press with plastic and press each ball to about 6 mm thick, which is thicker than for tortillas.
Can I make them vegan?
Yes, if you use vegan refried beans and skip the cheese and crema, using a dairy free lime yoghurt instead.
More made with lime crema (mexican soured cream sauce)
Enchiladas de Birria (Birria Enchiladas)
EFNFHPQuesadillas de Camaron y Queso (Prawn and Cheese Quesadillas)
EFNFCalabacitas Rellenas de Barbacoa (Stuffed Courgettes)
GFEFNFTacos de Barbacoa con Crema de Chipotle (Beef Barbacoa Tacos)
GFEFNFSee every dish made with lime crema (mexican soured cream sauce)
Double 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.