This Sopa Paraguaya recipe uses traditional ingredients such as Cornflour, lard, onion, eggs, fresh milk, and Paraguayan cheese (queso fresco). The combination of these ingredients produces a dish with exceptional flavor, aroma, and color.
The holidays are ideal for making a large batch of Paraguayan cheese cornbread to serve as an appetizer or side dish at a family gathering dinner.
How to Make Sopa Paraguaya
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the middle.
Prepare Baking Dish: Grease (2) 13'' x 9'' baking dish with butter, ensuring all sides and corners are well coated. Sprinkle cornmeal evenly over the greased baking dish, covering the bottom and sides. Gently shake off any excess cornmeal from the dish. Set the prepared baking dish aside.
Cook Onions: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the chopped onions and salt to the skillet and cook them until they become soft and transparent; do not let them brown for about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat, and stir in half of the buttermilk. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
Prepare Batter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add the cooled onion mixture, cornmeal, anise seeds (rubbed to release flavor), and the remaining buttermilk. Whisk everything together until thoroughly combined, then gently stir in the cheese.
📌(Resist the urge to add extra cornmeal. The batter will have a runny consistency, but this is intentional to keep the Sopa Paraguaya light and prevent it from becoming too dense).
Bake: Transfer the cornmeal mixture to the prepared baking dish and tap it gently to even it out. Bake it in the oven until it turns golden brown and the center is set, about 50 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Serve: Allow the Sopa Paraguaya to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then cut it into squares and serve it warm.
Camila Made Quick Tip: Cut the cornbread into squares, approximately 2 by 2-inch slices, and brown on each side in a buttered skillet until golden brown. Enjoy!
Related Recipes:
- Baked Ground Beef Empanadas
- Beef Chili
- Corn Souffle Muffins
- Spoonbread
- Savory Cornbread with Cheese and anise seeds
- Sopa So’o “Beef Cornbread Casserole”
📖 Recipe
Easy Cheese Cornbread
Tools
Ingredients
- 5 medium onions , chopped
- 226 gr ( 1 Cup) butter melted and cool, lard, shortening, or canola oil
- 1 kg. Queso Panela or Queso Blanco Crumbled into small pieces.
- 4 cups whole milk room temperature
- 10 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons non-aluminum baking powder* ( Our secret ingredient for a light Sopa Paraguaya)
- 800 gr. Quaker yellow cornmeal
- 1-½ tablespoons anise seeds , optional but highly recommended
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the middle.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease (2) 13'' x 9'' baking dish with butter, ensuring all sides and corners are well coated. Sprinkle cornmeal evenly over the greased baking dish, covering the bottom and sides. Gently shake off any excess cornmeal from the dish. Set the prepared baking dish aside.
- Cook Onions: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the chopped onions and salt to the skillet and cook them until they become soft and transparent; do not let them brown for about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat, and stir in half of the buttermilk. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Prepare Batter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add the cooled onion mixture, cornmeal, anise seeds (rubbed to release flavor), and the remaining buttermilk. Whisk everything together until thoroughly combined, then gently stir in the cheese.
- 📌(Resist the urge to add extra cornmeal. The batter will have a runny consistency, but this is intentional to keep the Sopa Paraguaya light and prevent it from becoming too dense).
- Bake: Transfer the cornmeal mixture to the prepared baking dish and tap it gently to even it out. Bake it in the oven until it turns golden brown and the center is set, about 50 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Serve: Allow the Sopa Paraguaya to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then cut it into squares and serve it warm.
Notes
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
