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Sopa de Ajo

A rustic garlic soup of fried bread, smoky paprika, and rich stock, finished with a poached egg — Castile’s winter blanket in a bowl.

⏱ 10 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 SoupCategory
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Sopa De Ajo

Sopa de ajo is a humble Castilian garlic soup: stale bread, garlic, smoked paprika, and broth, finished with a poached egg in each bowl. It is the ultimate pantry rescue — warming, garlicky, and deeply restorative.

Legend says it was born as a shepherds’ and farmhands’ meal, and it still shows up in cold weather and after late nights. The paprika, bloomed in hot oil, gives the soup its brick-red color and smoky depth.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium-low heat and cook the garlic gently until pale gold, about 3 minutes. Remove half the garlic and set aside.
  2. Add the bread to the pan and toast in the oil, turning, until golden on both sides.
  3. Stir in the paprika and cook 30 seconds until fragrant, then pour in the stock. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Bring to a simmer and cook 10 minutes, until the bread has softened and thickened the broth.
  5. Crack an egg into each of four soup bowls and carefully ladle the hot soup over them, letting the heat poach the eggs.
  6. Cover the bowls for 3 minutes, then top with the reserved garlic and a scatter of parsley. Serve piping hot.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Do not let the paprika burn — it turns bitter in seconds after hitting hot oil. The soup poaches the eggs gently as it stands, so serve it in covered bowls.

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Recipe details

Prep10 min
Cook25 min
Servings4
CategorySoup
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 →