Sourdough Sopapillas – Zesty South Indian Kitchen

Published: Jul 22, 2024 ·by Swathi.This post may contain affiliate links ·

Delicious  Sourdough Sopapillas made with sourdough discard, this puffed flour pastry is an excellent dessert with a touch of powdered sugar/ cinnamon sugar or honey.

History of Sopapillas

Sopapillas are, a type of fried pastry that originated in the Southwestern United States, particularly in New Mexico. The exact origins of sopapillas are murky but believed to be influenced by Spanish and Native American culinary traditions.

1. Spanish Influence: “Sopapilla” derives from the Spanish word “sopaipa,” which refers to a sweet fried pastry. Spanish settlers brought their cooking techniques to the Americas, including various fried dough recipes.
2. Native American Influence: Indigenous peoples of the Southwestern United States had their versions of fried bread, which may have merged with Spanish techniques to create the sopapilla.
3. New Mexico: Sopapillas became especially popular in New Mexico, where they are often served as a dessert or alongside savory dishes. They are typically light, fluffy, and hollow on the inside, making them perfect for filling with honey, syrup, or other sweet or savory ingredients.

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How to Make Sourdough Sopapillas

You will need the following ingredients to make these sourdough sopapillas.

• Sopapilla Ingredients
• Flour:  Use unbleached all-purpose flour. 
• Shortening: Shortening, not butter, ensures perfectly soft and fluffy sopapillas. 
• Baking powder: Baking powder acts as a levaner, which makes the dough rise.
• Sourdough starter/discard: You can use any type of sourdough starter or discard. ( used 100% Hydration starter/ discard)
• Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor of the sopapillas. 
• Water:  Add  water that is warm, not cold to the recipe
• Oil: You will need two quarts of oil for frying. I used peanut oil you can use any favorite oil to fry.
• Cinnamon sugar, powder sugar and honey is topped

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions to  Make Sourdough Sopapillas? 

When you make these sopapillas at home: 

 First, mix the dry ingredients, flour, salt, baking powder, sourdough discard/starter, and shortening together, then mix in the water. And make a soft pliable dough.

Set aside for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.

Roll out the dough and cut it into wedges. You can cut it in the shape of squares too.

Fry the dough pieces until  are golden brown on both sides. 

Drain on paper towels.

Enjoy

How to serve these sourdough sopapillas?

You can serve it either as a dessert or a savory dish. f you are serving it as dessert. You can serve it with dusted powdered sugar. Rolled in cinnamon sugar or you can serve it with honey.

If you are planning to serve savory dish  filled with savory ingredients such as ground beef or chicken, covered with Chile and cheese, and served with lettuce and tomato as an entree.

Storage

Fried sopapillas are best when eaten fresh. You can also store them in airtight containers without any topping for 2-3 days, and then reheat them in oven at 200-300F for 7-10 minutes.

Dough you can freeze up to a month.When you are ready to use thaw and fry the dough.

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