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Sopa Criolla

A hearty Lima-style soup of thin beef, noodles, and milk, finished with a poached egg and cheese — the comforting classic of a thousand fondas.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 Peruvian KitchenCategory
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Sopa Criolla

Sopa criolla is Lima’s favorite working-lunch soup: beef simmered with aji amarillo and tomatoes into a savory broth, stretched with milk and thin noodles, and crowned with a poached egg and fresh cheese. It is fast, filling, and the definition of criollo comfort.

A bowlful of Lima’s lunch-counter warmth

The broth is rich and slightly creamy, with ribbons of tender beef, soft noodles, and a gentle aji warmth. The poached egg on top melts into the soup, and the crumbling queso fresco adds a salty, milky finish.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Season the beef strips with salt and pepper, and brown them in the oil in a large pot over high heat for 2 minutes; remove and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, cook the onion for 4 minutes, then add the garlic, aji amarillo, oregano, and tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until saucy.
  3. Pour in the beef stock and bring to a boil, then add the noodles and cook for 8 minutes until tender.
  4. Return the beef to the pot, stir in the evaporated milk, and simmer for 3 minutes without boiling hard.
  5. Season to taste, then poach the eggs directly in the soup: crack them in, cover, and cook for 3 minutes until the whites are set.
  6. Ladle into bowls, topping each with a poached egg, a shower of queso fresco, and parsley.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Do not let the soup boil once the milk goes in, or it will curdle. Sopa criolla is best the day it is made; leftovers keep 1 day and the eggs should be added fresh per bowl.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings6
CategoryPeruvian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →