How to Make a Sopapilla From a Tortilla

How to Make a Sopapilla From a Tortilla
Written By
Serena Styles
Serena Styles
Published: Jul 3, 2011
Updated: Aug 26, 2022
1 minute read

A sopapilla, or cachanga, is a fried pastry served in the Southwest United States, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Traditionally, a sopapilla is made from light dough that puffs up to form a hollow pastry when fried. This pastry is served with an array of toppings for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert or a side dish. A sopapilla made from a tortilla is not common, but you can serve it just as you would a traditional sopapilla. You can make a sopapilla from a tortilla in less than 5 minutes. Top it with honey, powdered sugar, butter, lettuce, tomatoes, herbs or ground meat, for example.

Step 1.

Place a deep skillet over medium-high heat, and add 2 inches of vegetable oil. Allow the vegetable oil to preheat for 5 minutes.

Step 2.

Slide a flour tortilla into the hot oil, and allow it to fry for 60 seconds, or until it begins to turn a golden brown.

Step 3.

Remove the tortilla from the oil with a pair of metal tongs, and place it onto a paper towel to drain. Repeat the frying process with as many tortillas as you would like.

Step 4.

Serve your tortilla sopapillas while they are warm with your favorite toppings.

Things You Will Need
  • Deep skillet

  • Vegetable oil

  • Flour tortillas

  • Metal tongs

  • Paper towels

  • Topping

Tip

Refrigerate leftover tortilla sopapillas, and consume them within 72 hours. Reheat the leftovers in a microwave. Use fresh, thick flour tortillas for best results.

Serena Styles

Serena Styles is a Colorado-based writer who specializes in health, fitness and food. Speaking three languages and working on a fourth, Styles is pursuing a Bachelor's in Linguistics and preparing to travel the world. When Styles isn't…

Sponsored
The Nest Logo

The Nest is the go-to guide for newlyweds — relationships, home, money and building your life together.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.