Changua is a breakfast soup that is very common in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city. It is a perfect warm start to chilly days in Bogotá and is surprisingly flavorful and filling! People from Bogotá either love or hate this dish – there is no middle ground! Try it out and see what you think!
Changua is one of my favorite things to eat in Bogotá. When I was living with my friend’s parents here, her mom would make it almost every Sunday for breakfast. Changua can be found in other places in Colombia, but it was originated in Bogotá and is most popular here.
You can find Changua in restaurants, especially in La Candelaria, but it is so cheap and easy to make, I prefer to prepare it myself instead of going out. The recipe below makes two servings, but you can easily adjust for one, four, or more. As Changua is a breakfast dish, it is typically served with hot chocolate or coffee. Read all about these typical Colombian drinks and lots more in our article The best drinks you must try when visiting Bogotá.
Changua Recipe
Serves: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup water
- 2 eggs
- 2 scallions, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cilantro, chopped
- Bread, calado* or crackers
*Calado is a rounded hard piece of bread that is used for this and other kind of soups.
All ingredients can be purchased at any large supermarket such as Carulla or Éxito. You can also purchase your ingredients at smaller tiendas (stores) that sell produce; these stores are typically a bit cheaper. Some ingredients can be purchased at a store called D1, but they do not sell fresh produce. You will likely spend approximately $15.000 ($5 USD) if you have to buy all of the ingredients, and you will have some of everything leftover unless you make a larger batch of soup!
Directions
In a medium pot bring the milk and water to a boil. Once boiling, add the scallions, salt, and pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium at add the eggs. Be careful not to break the yolks! (I like to crack them one-by-one into a small bowl first just to be safe). Cook for an additional 3 minutes.
Serve the soup, including one egg per bowl. (If anyone is extra hungry you can always use more eggs!). Top with cilantro. I like a lot of cilantro, and I always put a small dish of chopped cilantro on the table so everyone can add more if they want, just like my friend’s mom.
Bread and/or crackers can also be served on the side so each person can add their desired amount. If I have bread, I like to add a little at a time as I eat, so it does not get too soggy. However, I actually prefer to use Club Social Original crackers. They give it a bit of a crunch at first, do not get as soggy as bread, and these particular crackers are a bit sweet and add a nice flavor to the dish.
Changua is one of the easiest Colombian recipes to make. Its ingredients are cheap and easy to find and it is a simple recipe to prepare! Let us know in the comments how your Chaungua-making experience went and whether you loved or hated the dish! Make sure you check out our other articles for the best insider tips on Bogotá!
