Homemade Sopes with Slow-Cooked Carnitas and Zesty Pickled Red Onion

Homemade Sopes with Slow-Cooked Carnitas and Zesty Pickled Red Onion

Crispy handmade masa sopes topped with tender, citrus-braised pork carnitas and bright pickled red onions create the ultimate Mexican street food experience. Perfect for spring gatherings, these authentic sopes are finished with creamy refried beans, fresh cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco.

AI SCORE
88
/100

Homemade Sopes with Slow-Cooked Carnitas and Zesty Pickled Red Onion

Crispy handmade masa sopes topped with tender, citrus-braised pork carnitas and bright pickled red onions create the ultimate Mexican street food experience. Perfect for spring gatherings, these authentic sopes are finished with creamy refried beans, fresh cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco.

AI SCORE
88
/100
MexicanDinner
⏱️
225 min
Time
👥
4 people
Servings
🔥
520 kcal
Calories
📊
Medium
Difficulty

Ingredients

  • 1kg boneless pork shoulder, cut into 4 large chunks
  • 1 medium orange, juiced
  • 2 limes, juiced and divided
  • 6 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 500ml chicken stock
  • 2 cups masa harina
  • 1 1/4 cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra for frying
  • 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
  • 120ml white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 400g can refried beans
  • 100g queso fresco, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • Your favorite salsa verde for serving

Instructions

1

For the pickled onions: Combine sliced red onion, white wine vinegar, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

2

Season pork shoulder chunks with cumin, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper, rubbing the spices into the meat.

3

Place seasoned pork in a Dutch oven or heavy pot with garlic, bay leaves, orange juice, juice of 1 lime, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2.5 to 3 hours until pork is very tender and reaches an internal temperature of at least 75°C.

4

Remove pork from liquid and shred with two forks. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon oil and crisp the shredded pork for 8-10 minutes until edges are golden and caramelized.

5

For the sopes: Mix masa harina with warm water, remaining salt, and 2 tablespoons oil until a soft dough forms. Divide into 8 equal balls.

6

Press each ball into a 10cm disc about 1cm thick. Cook on a dry griddle or cast iron pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden.

7

While still warm, pinch the edges of each sope upward to create a raised border, forming a small vessel for toppings.

8

Heat 1cm of vegetable oil in a skillet to 180°C. Fry each sope for 1-2 minutes per side until crispy. Drain on paper towels.

9

Warm the refried beans in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.

10

Assemble sopes by spreading a layer of warm refried beans on each, then topping with crispy carnitas, drained pickled red onions, crumbled queso fresco, fresh cilantro, and avocado slices.

11

Drizzle with remaining lime juice and serve immediately with salsa verde on the side.

🤖
AI Generated & Quality Checked
This recipe was generated by AI and verified before going live — completeness, ratios, logic and prep time all checked.
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