We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Sopapillas?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 32,108
Share

Sopapillas are a type of fried pastry which originated in New Mexico, although they are related to many South and Central American fried doughs. Latin American sopapillas are different from New Mexican ones, which leads to some confusion for diners expecting one dish and getting another. A New Mexican sopapilla is a pillow-like puff of fried pastry accomplished by making a special dough which puffs up as it fries, like a doughnut. It can be served sweet or savory, depending on region or taste, and is an important element of New Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. A Latin American sopapilla is a type of tortilla.

The name “sopapilla” probably originates from the Spanish sopaipa, another term for a sweet fried dough. Similar pastries include churros and bunelos, which tend to be seasoned in the same way, and are also made from sweetened fried doughs. When made sweet, sopapillas are drizzled with honey or anise syrup, and sometimes rolled in cinnamon sugar. When made savory, sopapillas are filled with beans, ground meat, or other ingredients. A sopapilla can also be eaten plain with a side of honey to dip it in, and sopapillas are always served hot, as they get heavy and greasy when cold.

The sopapilla is probably related to a wider family of fried and oil dipped breads common all over Latin America and Spain, along with the rest of the world. Most regional cooks have a soft spot in their heart for sweet, fried pastries, and the sopapilla appears to have originated approximately 200 years ago in New Mexico, although it spread quickly all over the Southwest. In parts of Mexico, sopapillas are made New Mexico style, although the name is not recognized as a food in other regions of Mexico, a nation with immensely varied cuisine.

In Latin America, sopapillas are puffed tortillas which are either roasted in ash or fried, depending on the region. Usually Latin American sopapillas are served as a dessert food, drizzled in syrup or sweet fruit, although they can also be found in a salty incarnation. They are particularly popular in Chile, although they can be found at roadside stands in other Latin American nations as well. In some parts of Latin America, sopapillas are made with squash doughs, rather than corn or wheat, which lends an intensely sweet and slightly caramelized flavor that many consumers rave about.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-are-sopapillas.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.