Yeast Sopaipillas

A classic New Mexican specialty, the Sopaipilla is a fried bread that puffs up like a pillow. This recipe comes from Comida Sabrosa, a no frills New Mexican food cook book written by Irene Barraza Sanchez and Gloria Sanchez Yund.

🕐 Prep Time: 30 mins

🔥 Cook Time: 45 min of frying depending on the size of your skillet or fryer

🍽 Servings: 2-3 dozen sopaipillas

---

🧾 Ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon shortening
• 1 pkg. dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110°)
• 1 1/4 cup scalded milk, cooled

Oil for frying

---

🍳 Instructions

PLACE dry ingredients in large bowl; cut in shortening; set aside.

DISSOLVE yeast in warm water; add sugar and stir well.

MAKE a well in center of dry ingredients; add liquid ingredients all at once.

MIX to form a workable dough.

KNEAD dough for 5-10 minutes. Set aside.

COVER dough with towel and let dough rest for 15 minutes.

HEAT oil in deep skillet (420°).

ROLL dough 1/8 inch thick into rectangle; cut into 4” squares, or rectangles.

DEEP fry each square until golden brown on both sides; drain on absorbent towel.

SERVE

---

🍴 Serving Suggestions

• Fill with beans and rice and carne and chile as a main dish.
• Fill with honey for desert.