Garlic lovers rejoice! Enjoy a beautiful bowl of Sopa de Ajo, a rustic Spanish garlic soup accompanied by poached eggs and grilled bread.
The traditional Sopa de Ajo is said to have been created by Castillian shepherds looking for a way to stay extra warm during colder nights out in the pasture. Many recipes cook the bread right into the soup but my garlic soup is served more as a broth with the bread on the side. A chunky and earthy broth rich with crispy chorizo, fragrant thyme, smoked paprika, and large pieces of caramelized garlic cloves.
Sopa de Ajo
It’s fresh garlic bulb and garlic scapes season! And what better way to get a heavy and healthy dose of garlic than with a garlic soup…with 4 whole garlic heads in it! Don’t worry they are slowly caramelized in a pan so it takes a lot of the edge off.
If you find garlic scapes, why not add a good handful too in the soup. These are the stems and flower buds of the garlic plant. Scapes have a mild garlic flavor and a slight sweetness. BONUS RECIPE: I also recently prepared garlic scrapes as a vegetable side dish for dinner! Just grill them till tender on the BBQ in an aluminum dish with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Loved it, give it a try!
Everything is better with poached eggs
Served with poached eggs and a few slices of grilled bread, this earthy soup is hearty enough for a light summer meal on a cooler or rainy day. I poach my eggs no more than 3 minutes and serve up my soup right away. Dipping my bread in the runny egg yolk is truly one of life’s great pleasures.
Yes, the taste of the Sopa de Ajo, or garlic soup, is mellowed by caramelization. But a warning: if you plan on canoodling and kissing later in the evening, make sure all parties eat a bowl first 🙂
If you are looking for more summery garlic soup, why not try my Thai Peachy Garlic Scape Soup.
Sopa de Ajo (Spanish Garlic Soup)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 garlic heads broken into cloves, unpeeled
- 100 gm dried chorizo finely chopped
- 1 tsp thyme leaves
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 tsp smoked sweet paprika
- handful of garlic scapes chopped (optional)
- 4 eggs
- 4 thick slices of bread char-grilled
Instructions
- Over a low heat warm oil in a saucepan. Add the garlic and cook until skins are golden, stirring occasionally for about 15-20 minutes. Remove garlic and leave to cool. Squeeze garlic cloves from skins and chop roughly.
- Add chorizo to same pan and cook until crisp on medium heat until, about 2-3 minutes. Add the thyme and cook until fragrant. Add the chicken stock, paprika, garlic cloves and garlic scapes. Keep on a simmer and prior to serving, poach eggs in the soup for 3 minutes.
- Serve into bowls right away with slices of char-grilled bread.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
Well, I am a huge garlic lover, so this soup has me drooling! Love the chorizo and how easy this is to make! Will definitely be giving this a go when the weather cools off. Thanks for sharing!
I am sure you will love this soup then is you love garlic. Just seeing the post I am craving it again lol.
This looks pretty tasty!
And I love Spain and spanish! Ahh. I used to learn it at school and I am super obsessed with Spanish related things, hehe!
Have been to Barcelona 4 times and I am thinking of moving there!
Thanks for this lovely post!
-JarOfSweeets-
Thank you! Barcelona was my favorite city when I went back packing for 2 months across Europe, love the culture and people and food too 🙂
Hahaha, laughed alot for the kissing part 🙂 :). I’ve never had a garlic soup before, I have to wait till winter to try this, but I have to admit looks so delicious. Pinned.
Ha ha it was a funny comment. I am sure you will love it Amira, very tasty!
This soup is right up my alley! Garlic, olive oil and eggs so yummy!
Thanks Katerina, I am sure you will fall in love with it if you make it!
I have seen a recipe similar to this before but I have never tried it, this looks like a perfect summer lunch!
Oh it reall is, or light dinne ron a hot day!
Ohhh…how yummy. Your soup pictures are incredible…I could put a spoon right through the screen and indulge. Yum. I’m going to have to try this. It is so simple to make. Agree, dipping bread in runny yolk…divine. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Rosemary, it is easy and so good! Egg yokl the best 🙂
MMMMM–I have a pile of garlic that I need to clean on the patio right now. Going to tackle it tomorrow and perhaps make this delicious soup with a crusty bread!
Thanks Debra, what perfect timing for you 🙂
Ill be printing a copy of this recipe out and giving to every one I meet that has this awful cold/flu that is going away, or is that just a myth that garlic keeps the doctor away? Ha. I love your soup, I bet it is fricken tasty as. Saw some garlic on special yesterday at the markets, might make another trip out there and make a batch. Yum!
LOL Ana I hope you are not sick? I imagine it woudl be a huge immune boost too! And yes it is amazing in taste!
A delicious hearty soup with a runny yolk and toasted bread, this would be a perfect evening!Love Spanish food, bookmarked it will try it soon!
Thanks Prateek let me know how it turns out if you make it!
Looks amazing! I’ve never had this but it looks and sounds delicious.
Thanks Nathan 🙂
This sounds absolutely exquisite!!! I do love a good garlic soup, and this looks so rich and flavorful. 🙂
Thank you Krista, it is super flavoful!
Oh boy! how good is this! Anything with garlic is always up my alley. 😀
Thank you it really is a great soup hope you try it!
Oh this soup is just for me! Perfect for our season and garlic, chorizo and spices…YES PLEASE!It lt looks mouthwatering good!
Yes it is perfect for your winter too. Glad you like it so much.
You know I’m a HUGE garlic lover Evelyne and I am so loving how delicious this soup looks. Right now my mouth is just watering. Okay let me stop tying now lol.
Thank you Kia I am so thrilled and surprised to see everyone s reaction to this unusual soup 😀
Oh, boy, does this soup sound amazing! What fabulous flavors!!! I may have to wait till fall to give it a try 🙂
Thanks Liz hope you do try it in the fall, great to fight off the first cool nights and days.
Oh man Eve I am practically licking my screen. It’s winter here and this would be most welcome for dinner tonight! 😀
Of for sure this soup is perfect for Australian winters and fight of cold bugs lol!
I haven’t had this soup in ages! It’s actually been on my “to make” list for several years now, but haven’t gotten around to it. Your version looks wonderful — totally agree with serving the bread on the side. Thanks!
Oh you know it John. I made it like 2 years ago and only got back to making it again fro the blog. Don’t wait any longer, make it…so good!
LET ME IN ON THIS!!!! Garlic, olive oil and eggs – YESSS!
The garlic soup bath is ready, hop on in 😀
Your version looks magnificent! Good job Evelyne! You were able to convince me to make one! 😀
Thanks Nagi, I thought this one was going to be a hard sell but I think a lot will make it lol. You’ll love it.
It looks hearty and so yum! I would love one huge bowl with some extra garlic bread slices.
Thanks Angie. I actually soaked up the remaining oil from browning of the garlic cloves with the bread before putting on the BBQ. Great minds think alike 😉
Your version looks so good that I might just have to make this tonight 🙂
Thank you Tandy, if yuo do make it let me know how it turns out!
oh YUM!! Evelyne, I think you’ve outdone yourself. This looks amazing
Thank you Hilary, it is pretty awesome so hope you try it….both Ben and you or no kissies later lol