This Changua Bogotana recipe is the perfect breakfast on a cold morning. It's a light, filling and comforting soup.
What is Changua?
It is a typical breakfast in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. It's a comforting soup made with milk, scallions, bread, cilantro and eggs.
Until recently, I had never made Changua and I didn’t have a recipe. My mom loves this egg soup, so I gave her a call hoping that she had a recipe. Well, she did so now that’s two of mom’s recipes in a row.
Variations and Notes
Like many traditional Colombian recipes, every cook, region and family has its own changua variation.
Some people like to add "cuajada" a Colombian cheese, almojábanas, potatoes to their changua.
In Bogotá, Changua is served for breakfast with bread on the side or in the soup, but this Colombian breakfast soup can be eaten at any time of the day.
It is also known to help with a hangover, so you can try it after your next party and let me know if it helped.
Ingredients
You will find the printable recipe card with exact amounts and directions below.
Milk: I prefer using whole milk, but use low fat if you prefer.
Water: To make the soup.
Eggs: I recommend using good quality eggs.
Cilantro: If you don't like cilantro use parsley
Scallions: Give the soup extra flavor
Salt and pepper to your taste.
Bread with butter to serve.
How to Make Changua
- Place the milk and water in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Add the onion, salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the eggs without breaking them.
- Let the eggs cook for 3 minutes and add the cilantro.
- Serve warm with bread on the side and garnish with fresh cilantro.
More Breakfast to Try
Huevos Pericos (Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Scallions)
Pandebono (Colombian Style Cheese Bread)
Changua Recipe (Colombian Egg and Milk Soup)
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk
- 2 cups water
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro plus more for serving
- 3 scallions chopped
- Salt and pepper
- Bread with butter to serve
Instructions
- Place the milk and water in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Add the onion, salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the eggs without breaking them.
- Let the eggs cook for 3 minutes and add the cilantro.
- Serve warm with bread on the side and garnish with fresh cilantro.
Jhonny Walker
It is so good to see this first thing in the morning 🙂 gives you one for breakfast 🙂
KennyT
Erica, this is a very special breakfast idea for me, I'd love to try.
Nat
The only egg soup I have tried before is the Chinese crab and egg....this is amazing Erica...and what a burst of flavor the cilantro would give the whole combination...
Carol
I thought people use almojabanas in pieces and put it in the soup, or pieces of bread.
Anonymous
People do add almojabanas to this soup,when they have it, but any bread works. Also you can add cheese to it as well
Martin Maurer
..and myfather-in -law added boiled potatoes imsteas of bread. Lovely!
Leonor Patel
Or pieces of arepa
Anonymous
Arepa amarilla
Erica
Thank you guys!
Angela O.
My family has always called changua, caldo. Made almost the same, with a little pat of butter added anf the eggs are poached. We have never put cilantro, just green onions and tomato. It's so good. Always reminds me of my grandpa. Add some chocolate with cheese and it's the perfect breakfast.
Eliss
I've been wanting to have this lately...haven't since a teen. We also called it caldo, but my dad would use a bit of meat (stew beef leftover from night before)....just a little chunk, cilantro and of course the poached egg. He'd eat it with the in the soup, but I didn't like soggy bread, so I ate it on the side. Glad I found the recipe. So simple!
Palidor
How delicious! That's a great way enjoy eggs.
doggybloggy
what a unique and delicious soup!
Kim
I've never seen a soup like this before, but it sounds yummy.
Oysterculture
This soup sounds like the perfect way to start the day complete with some crusty, yummy bread to mop up all the last drops.
Simply Life
Oh wow, I've never had anything like this - looks great!
Erica
Thank you everyone for the comments and for visiting 🙂
Anonymous
I lived in Bogota, and I highly recommend this soup in the morning.
Robert Guerrero
OMG!! That is too funny.. I totally remember seeing this soup served up at breakfast after a long night of partying with multiple hungover guests.
Maria Valdez
We made it with milk,crusty bread, salt, cilantro and egg. It's absolutely delicious and it brings me memories of my grandmother. A nutritious breakfast for children and grown-ups alike. I now make it for my own grandchildren in Wales UK were I live after leaving Colombia in the 1970's.
Chef E
Hello! This has my name written all over it! You have a great site, and I am exploring some more...
La Hawaiana
I remember eating this when I lived in Colombia. The family I lived with served it with these big crackers that you broke up into the soup and they would soften. Good memories...:)
Anonymous
Calados!
Maritza Heg
Those big “crackers” are called CALADOS
Erica
Thank you all!
Tricia
I have been searching for this recipe ever since I had it a friends house, his mother made it after New Year's and I have never been able to get him to get the receipe from her for me!!!! Thank you!
Leslie Correa
I absolutely love this breakfast, it is my favorite, especially with white cheese, preferably Tropical(Spanish white frying cheese). My mom always makes it when she visits:)
Chris
OMG!!! I can't believe you actually have a proper recipe for Changua!! LOL I've been eating this since I was 5!! My aunt used to make it, then my mom adapted the recipe but never felt right. Shame my wife doesn't enjoy it as much as I do, but yes OMG is this good hangover food!! Not that I drink, but I've heard that from my brother, who does drink alot, and my dad, who used to drink, not heavily but enough to get a hangover.
The only difference with my aunt's recipe is she actually takes good brown bread and puts it in the soup, so you have the soggy breadiness and eggs with the onions and everything else, just a different way to try it, as that's the way I'm used to eating it, is with the bread already in.
Really easy and REALLY good!! This is the ONLY way I eat poached eggs.
Nancy T.
I remember my family in Bogota making this when I was young and my mom still makes it here in the states on occasions. Yup, I had mine with the soggy bread too! Never knew it was for hang overs! LOL! Now, I know what to make for my husband!
Adriana
My parent's are from Bogota and my mother used to make this every sunday morning. It was so good. The only difference is that she would add chopped up potatoes and pieces of regular bread. I have no idea if this was her little twist on the recipe or if that's how she was raised making it. Either way, its the best thing to eat in the morning.
Anonymous
My friend also from Bogata puts very small diced potatoes in his. Sauté the potatoes and onions a bit in butter then add water. Cook til potatoes are done. Add milk. Bring to a low boil. Drop in the eggs and cilantro. Sooo good! I add a touch of garlic to mine.
Maria
Both my parents were from Colombia so I grew up eatting this for breakfast. And now my youngest daughter loves it too. We actually also add the bread to it...sooo good!
oscar
This was so good and simple!. Good job posting this. you can also add cheees to it, spanish cheese of course.
Thanks again for posting!
Oscar
Matt
This looks gnarly...
Paco
Great recipe!
My grandmother's version (she was from Alban, Cundinamarca, Colombia) included one garlic clove, crushed.
Daniela
Oh I love Changua!! It's one of those things my body caves during the northeast winter or when I'm sick! And @Adriana, my mom (also from Bogota) puts chopped up potato in it as well!
Libby
I just had my changua for breakfast. One thing Erica, my grandparents always made it with the calao (hard bread) cut in pieces inside the soup, also my greatgrandparents always added chunks of fresh farm cheese. I don't have that cheese so I use mozarella or provolone or whatever cheese is available, except cheedar it makes it bitter. Sadly to say no one else in the family likes changua so I make it for myself. Nothing like fresh cilantro.
Lea
This is one of my favorite meals!! My mom adds sliced potatoes to it. Yum!
Scarlet
Its so easy, yet I never learn to do it. Thanks for the recipe! I love changua for breakfast. My mom always makes it for me when she comes to visit 🙂
Now I can make it when I feel homesick.. or at any time
Javier
Any ideas how to replace calados?
YURI
THIS USED TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITES WHEN I WAS IN COLOMBIA. I AM GLAD THAT YOU POSTED THIS IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IT...I HOPE MY KIDS AND THE HUSBAND LIKE AS MUCH AS I DID......THANKS
Caroll
I am sad to say that there is not a way to replace calados, they are. So missed specially with this recipe.
Mr.Bug
This soup is like viagra, it wakes up the dead
Adriana
I am so happy that I've found your site! There are so many recipes including the changua recipe that I've craved to make over the years. My mother passed away when I was young and I was not able to get the recipes of the meals she made when we were growing up. I am so thankful that I have them now thru your site and can make them for my children one day.
Erica
Thank you,Adriana! Enjoy the blog!
Ann
Yes, I ate plenty of changua when I lived in Bogotá. I remember the bread placed in the soup bowl, then pouring the soup on top of it right before serving so it didn't get too soggy. I'd forgotten about it. Thanks for the post!
george ordonez
we used to eat in Sangil all the time it is called sopas. we eat them with arepa instead of bread. that is the rea way to eat this stuff. sopas is the thing to eat in colombia for breakfast.
Heather
My father is from Bogota and I grew up eating this. Just made it this morning in fact. I put the bread in the soup though and add even amounts of milk and water with no pepper. Delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Corina
I don't really know much about Colombian food but this looks delicious and I'm glad I found your blog. I'm looking forward to having a browse through.
robert g.
OMG! Changua...I always think of it as hangover food. My aunt would make it the day after a big party for all the people who crashed at her house. Good memories! Thanks.
Alan Bowman
Hi Erica from Spain
I take it that by "add the eggs without breaking them", you are referring to the yolks - one has to break the shells to get at the egg inside.
I must try this one day as a "bland diet (convalescent) dish"
Abrazos
Alan
Erica Dinho
Hi Alan, Yes..without breaking the yolks!
Anonymous
Good point !
lorena
Today is my first time making changua I hope my american mom like it i'm adopted that's why i say my american mom if any of you like to adopt go to kidsaveorg.com
Jeffrey Whelchel
Know this comment is gonna sound silly to anyone that is a seasoned cook, but I'll forge ahead in any case. When I read your instructions I was a little confused by the line: "add the eggs without breaking them". I had a mental picture of eggs going in the pot with shells on. Even to the point of wondering why there wasn't a step to break the eggs after the 3 minutes. food.com's version of this recipe says to carefully add the eggs without breaking the yolk. Aha. now I have the correct mental picture. With the understanding that I'm still a possible candidate for the show, 'worst cooks in America', I thought you might like to clarify that step.
David
Alan, if I didn't know any better, I would say that you sound like a smart ass. Condiscending!
Isabella
Love it. My mom used to make this for us all the time. She doesn't make it with bread, but with potatoes cooked in the milk broth. Maybe I will have to start making it for myself.
george ordonez
we sometimes put potatoes in this stuff and eat wit arepa and call it sopas later my dad is from Sangil, Santander sur, Colombia too. ok
GEORGE ORDONEZ
and in Colombia they even put potatoes in it let me tell you ok bye and take care.
Eduardo Patarroyo
In the most traditional changua eggs are optional and ther'es no pepper. It is supposed for putting; arepas, envueltos, mogollas, almojábanas or bread into it in pieces.
Eduardo Patarroyo
And it is not tecnically a soup and not for beeing seem like one, it's just a way of preparing milk for breakfast.
Diana
My mom taught me to make this with garlic as well which gives it an excellent taste, (I don't put pepper but maybe i'll try it next time) and we also add in pieces of French or Italian bread when it's close to being done. It's one of my favorite breakfast dishes.. brings me back to when I lived in Colombia!
Mary Ann Z
I love making this soup and didn't t know the name until I saw this website Photo. It reminds me of my mom , She was from Bogota,. Wonderful to find an actual recipe as she didn't leave a written recipe and I improvised from memory. I add a small amount of diced potato and also use mozzarella but now will add quest blanco instead.
Thank you. Mary Ann, a Colombian in upstate NY.
Allison
We make it at home with envueltos in place of the bread in the soup & it is amazing u add it towards the very end because otherwise it will melt into the soup, but it gives it such a sweetness! You must try it.
Toni
How interesting! Thank you for sharing that. I had to look up envueltos and I love how there are so many versions, from egg & cheese with corn, to something resembling a chicken tamale, to a sort of Latin-German/Hungarian-African fusion with tomatoey beef wrapped in cabbage!
I truly believe that if more people in the world could enjoy a wide variety of foods and appreciate the similarities between cultures, not to mention cooking and eating together. . . We would have a more harmonious world. Food creates Peace.
Mark
Tried it in Bogotá. It's definitely an acquired taste unless you have a severe hangover...which I didn't. Soggy bread in hot watery milk with two waterlogged eggs floating in it and some cilantro tossed in to give it some taste. On the positive side, it's bland enough not to give you more problems after a night of heaving up Bogotá beer and Aguardiente...which is the point of this soothingly bland breakfast dish.
Mark Woodhull
Postscript: Changua is one of those foods that you’re either going to totally love...or totally hate. I find that there’s no middle ground.
Nicolas Arango
I'm Colombian and I have to say that this soup is delicious!
Joseph
I wonder if this could be made with beaten eggs instead sort of like a Colombian egg drop soup.
Elizabeth
I just made this for my mom and she loved it! Flavor was delicious and even asked for seconds.
Mark
I lived in Cali and my wife is from Bogotá. We can never agree on the value of Changua to the Colombian culinary history. Changua is an acquired taste. I guess you have to be from the colder climes of Bogotá to appreciate Changua. In Cali, we have much better options for breakfast than soggy bread and a runny egg drowning in hot milk and green onions. Eeeek! But, I eat it anyway for marital harmony. I put my foot down when it comes to agreeing on Deportivo Cali vs Santa Fe. Some things are just to sacred to change. 🙂
Olga Delmonte- Cardoso
Hola Erica:
I love Changua! For me it is comfort food. My mom is Colombian and I am a Brazilian living in Northern California for almost 19 years. My mom used to cook this soup when we were sick or it was really cold in the morning. Thanks for your wonderful Colombian recipes.
Mark Woodhull
I lived in Cali and never heard of Changua until I married my wife who is from Bogotá. Sooo...I tried Changua...once...just to promote marital harmony. My conclusion was that to truly appreciate Changua, one has to be from the chilly climes of Bogotá and drunk. To everyone else...Changua is an acquired taste. Yes, I’m still married...somehow.
Blanca Compton
My name is Blanca. I came to this country when I was 18. I was lucky enough to have my mom live with us for the last years of her life, so I was able to learn how to cook the Colombian way.
One of the recepies that even my American children love is "The Changua" we had to make some changes to it, because some of us are alergic to "Eggs". So here is our recepie. Hope you all enjoy it...
4 cups of milk
2cups of water
Boil with salt to taste and 2 tablespoones of Country Crock original butter.
Put in the pieces of bread while it is boiling the first time. Turn it off before it boils over. Put the rest of the bread and chopped Cilantro.
Turn the stove on and boil a second time, turning it off before it boils over again.
Serve and enjoy it. You can put more Butter if you like. We love the taste of it.
Toni
I made this today. I added a pinch of cumin and a sprinkle of black pepper. I noticed your directions did not instruct on bringing the milk to a boil. . . I would advise to warm the milk over a low fire, stirring constantly, then slowly increase the heat as you bring it to a full boil, stirring constantly.
The soup is verrrrry mild, like a bland potato soup, but the salt from the bread and butter help bring out the onion flavor. I toasted and buttered my bread, then, used only the crusts, dropping only a couple at a time into the soup. The remaining crustless bread I just ate as toast on the side. This is because the mushy bread was not a texture I liked. In future, I'll try with a crustier bread, such as sourdough, or a baguette.
I also reduced the soup to prepare for one person, using 1c milk, 1/2c water,1 egg, and 1 scallion.
Next time, I am going to try it with turmeric and a pinch of cayenne. For those seeking a hangover remedy, both of those spices will help.
The cilantro taste was, disappointingly, rather lost. I'm curious if perhaps a little lime juice would help bring it out, and maybe butterless toast.
Thank you for the recipe and the wealth of ideas it has inspired! I've saved several of your recipes and I'm looking forward to taking them for my own spin this month. Can't wait to toast my own plantain!
Sharon Sundling
! was astonished (happily so!) to see this recipe...!! I hvae never had this recipe, but it reminds me so much of my Mom making it for me when I was sick... altho she never added water to the milk. Being American we never called it Caldo, but just Egg and Milk on Buttered toast... I loved it. But she only made it when I was sick.. Now that I am once again reminded of it I will make it for myself, wheather I am sick or well. 🙂 Thank you for sharing it all of you.
MMM
My Colombian-American boyfriend mentioned Changua in passing, reminiscing about eating it with his extended family. I surprised him by making it and he was blown away! He did mention eating it with calados, which I’m gathering are a type of cracker or crisp flat bread… could you point me to where I might buy these or if there is a recipe for making them? Thank you!
Dominique
Thank you so much for posting this, my mom used to make this for me almost every Sunday and she’s told me the recipe a couple times but couldn’t do it without exact measurements hahahaha “póngale un poquito de esto” doesn’t work for me
This makes me so happy and I can’t wait to eat it this morning.