So much of Paraguayan food is comfort food, and one excellent example is Sopa So'o. This delicious dish consists of Traditional Sopa Paraguaya filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, garlic, and peppers.
For this Sopa So'o recipe, you can use my Chipa Guazu (Cheesy soufflé ) or Sopa Paraguaya (savory cornbread ) batter; both options are equally delicious.a
Sopa So’o is a versatile dish that's perfect for any day of the week. It's often served as a main course but can also be enjoyed as an appetizer or side dish. You can personalize it to your taste by adding ingredients such as olives, raisins, or hard-boiled eggs. 😋
For more Paraguayan-inspired recipes, check out our Sopa Paraguaya, Chipa Guazú, Chipa Guazu Muffins, and Chipa So'o.
How to Make Sopa So'o
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
Preparing the Filling:
- Heat Olive Oil: Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet.
- Cook the Beef: Add the ground beef and season with beef bouillon, black pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Cook it, stirring and breaking the pieces into the same size with a wooden spoon, until brown and cooked through about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add Vegetables: Put in the onions, garlic, and pepper. Cook them until softened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add Parsley: Stir in the parsley and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Season and Chill: Taste it and add more seasoning if you like. Let the filling cool down while you prepare the Sopa Paraguaya batter. Alternatively, transfer it to a large mixing bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.
Preparing the Sopa Paraguaya Batter:
- Make the Batter: Prepare the batter for the Sopa Paraguaya batter. For this Sopa So'o recipe, you can use my Sopa Paraguaya or Chipa Guazu batter; both options are equally delicious.
Assembling and Baking:
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter and sprinkle a bit of cornmeal in it.
- Layer the Dish: Pour half of the batter into your prepared dish, ensuring it evenly covers bottom of the dish, then add the beef filling on top. If you're using eggs, put them over the beef. Cover it all with the rest of the batter.
- Bake: Cook it in the oven for 60 to 90 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the middle is set.
- Cool and Serve: Let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
See More Paraguayan Recipes:
📖 Recipe
Easy Sopa So'o
Tools
Ingredients
For the Beef filling:
- 1 lb lean Ground Beef 90/10
- 1 large Onion , finely diced
- 1 tablespoon knorr beef flavor bouillon , to taste
- 5 cloves Garlic , finely minced
- 1 Poblano Pepper or any bell pepper , finely chopped
- 5 eggs (hard-boiled), chopped
- Kosher salt to taste.
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper , to taste
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup finely chopped Italian fresh parsley , cilantro, or green onion
For the Chipa Guazú Mixture:
- 113 g (½ cup) butter melted and cooled
- 453 g (1 pound) shredded Mozzarella cheese or frying cheese
- 1 cup whole milk , room temperature
- 6 large eggs , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
- 171 g (1 cup) Quaker yellow cornmeal
- 36 oz frozen kernel sweet corn , fresh or canned
Instructions
Preparing the Filling:
- Heat Olive Oil: Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet.
- Cook the Beef: Add the ground beef and season with beef bouillon, black pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Cook it, stirring and breaking the pieces into the same size with a wooden spoon, until brown and cooked through about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add Vegetables: Put in the onions, garlic, and pepper. Cook them until softened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add Parsley: Stir in the parsley and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Season and Cool: Taste it and add more seasoning if you like. Let the filling cool down while you prepare the Sopa Paraguaya batter. Alternatively, transfer it to a large mixing bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.
Preparing the Sopa Paraguaya Batter:
- Make the Batter: Prepare the batter for the Sopa Paraguaya batter. For this Sopa So'o recipe, you can use my Sopa Paraguaya or Chipa Guazu batter; both options are equally delicious.
Assembling and Baking:
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter and sprinkle a bit of cornmeal in it.
- Layer the Dish: Pour half of the batter into your prepared dish, ensuring it evenly covers bottom of the dish, then add the beef filling on top. If you're using eggs, put them over the beef. Cover it all with the rest of the batter.
- Bake: Cook it in the oven for 60 to 90 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the middle is set.
- Cool and Serve: Let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
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.