On a trip to Mexico City, I tasted these melt-in-your-mouth sopes. They’re little corn tortillas filled with a spicy black bean spread, roasted chicken, lettuce and cheese. It’s a perfect dish for Cinco de Mayo. The holiday celebrates the victory of Mexican forces over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It’s a great dish to serve anytime you’d like a Mexican dish.
Although sopes are usually served as appetizers, I’ve adapted this recipe to make a simple, tasty dinner.
Helpful Hints
• Any type of salsa can be used. Choose the heat of the salsa according to your preference.
• If all 4 tortillas don’t fit into your skillet, cook them in batches or use two skillets.
• Any type of hard cheese, such as cheddar, can be used.
• Black bean dip or pate can be found in most markets. Canned reduced-fat refried beans can be used instead.
Mexican Sopes (Layered Open Tortilla Sandwiches)
Yield 2 servings.
Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer
¾ pound roasted or rotisserie chicken breast, skin and bones removed
2 teaspoons canola oil
½ cup diced red onion
4 6-inch corn tortillas
½ cup canned or jarred black bean dip
1 cup washed, ready-to-eat, shredded lettuce
¼ cup shredded, reduced-fat Monterey jack cheese
1 cup canned or jarred medium-heat tomato salsa
Cut chicken into slices and set aside. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and saute until they start to shrivel, about 2 minutes. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium and add the tortillas. Warm for half a minute. Turn them over and spread with the black bean mixture. Sprinkle each one with the sauteed onion, a layer of cheese, a layer of chicken and a layer of lettuce. Remove to dinner plates. Spoon salsa on top or serve on the side.
Per serving: 547 calories (22 percent from fat), 13.4 g fat (3.2 g saturated, 5.1 g monounsaturated), 135 mg cholesterol, 51.4 g protein, 52.3 g carbohydrates, 9.8 g fiber, 1,004 mg sodium.
