Sopes de Tinga (Thick Masa Cakes with Chipotle Chicken)
Fresh thick masa discs with a pinched rim, filled with refried beans, smoky chicken tinga, crisp lettuce and crumbly cheese.
Made with Chipotle tinga sauce and Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.44 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 in a bowl. Add the warm water and knead for 2 minutes into a soft, smooth dough like play dough. Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
15 min - 2
Divide into 8 balls. Press each between two sheets of baking paper to about 8 cm across and 7 mm thick, using a plate or a tortilla press.
- 3
Cook each disc in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes each side, until set with a few brown spots. Cool slightly, then pinch the edge up all the way round to make a low rim.
2 min - 4
Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the sopes for 2 minutes each side until golden and crisp outside. Drain on kitchen paper.
2 min - 5
Meanwhile, warm your ready made chipotle tinga sauce (see the base recipe) with your shredded chicken (see the base recipe) for 8 minutes until hot all the way through. Warm your refried beans (see the base recipe) in another pan with a splash of water.
8 min - 6
Spread beans in each sope, then spoon on the chicken tinga. Top with lettuce, onion, queso fresco and soured cream. Serve at once.
Tips
- The dough should feel like soft play dough. If it cracks at the edge when you press it, add a spoonful of water. If it sticks, add a sprinkle of masa harina.
- Pinch the rim while the sopes are still warm. Cold masa cracks.
- Fill them just before serving so the base stays crisp.
Storing and freezing
The cooked, unfilled sopes keep in an airtight tub for 1 day and recrisp in a hot oven. Keep leftover filling in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat until steaming hot.
Questions
What is the difference between a sope and a tostada?
A sope is a thick masa cake with a pinched rim that holds toppings, cooked soft inside and crisp outside. A tostada is a thin flat tortilla fried or baked until crisp.
Can I use ordinary flour?
No. Masa harina is made from corn treated with lime and gives the right taste and texture. Plain flour or cornflour will not form the same dough.
Are they gluten free?
Yes, masa harina is gluten free, and the filling is too if your base recipes are gluten free. Check the label on your masa harina packet to be sure.
More made with chipotle tinga sauce
Tinga de Yaca Rice Bowls (Jackfruit Tinga with Black Beans)
GFDFEFTamales de Tinga (Chicken Tinga Tamales)
GFEFNFEmpanadas de Tinga con Papa y Queso (Baked Chipotle Potato and Cheese Empanadas)
VNFEnchiladas de Tinga (Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas)
GFEFNFDouble 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.