Description
Sopapillas are a delightful fried pastry originating from Latin American cuisine, characterized by their light, airy texture and golden crisp exterior. This recipe guides you through making soft dough pockets fried until they puff up beautifully, served warm with sweet honey for a perfect dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup warm water
Frying and Serving
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
- 1/2 cup honey (for serving)
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, thoroughly mix the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure an even distribution of the leavening and seasoning agents.
- Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add vegetable shortening and warm water to the dry mixture, kneading gently until a soft, cohesive dough forms.
- Rest the Dough: Cover the dough with a clean cloth or plastic wrap and allow it to rest for approximately 20 minutes to relax the gluten and make rolling easier.
- Roll the Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thickness to ensure proper puffing and cooking during frying.
- Cut the Shapes: Cut the rolled dough into squares or triangles according to preference, preparing them for frying.
- Heat Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a deep fryer or large skillet and heat it until it reaches a temperature suitable for frying, approximately 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the Sopapillas: Carefully place the dough pieces into the hot oil and fry until they puff up and turn golden brown, typically about 1-2 minutes on each side.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the fried sopapillas from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil. Serve immediately warm, drizzled generously with honey.
Notes
- Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying to achieve a puffed, crispy texture without sogginess.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pan; fry in batches to maintain the oil temperature.
- Sopapillas are best enjoyed fresh and warm as the oil crispness diminishes over time.
- You can substitute vegetable shortening with butter for a richer flavor, but the texture may slightly change.
- Honey can be replaced with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar for different sweet toppings.
