Changua Bogotana is a traditional Andean Milk and Egg Soup.

The savoury breakfast soup is popular in Bogota, known to locals as an affordable hangover cure.

Our flavourful soup recipe features a simmering milk broth, poached eggs, and chopped cilantro and scallions. Hot bowls are served with stale or crusty bread, perfect for sopping up runny yolk.

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How to make traditional Changua Bogotana. This easy Colombian Milk and Egg Soup recipe is served at breakfast with fresh herbs & bread. — Save our Changua Bogotana Colombian Milk and Egg Soup recipe to Pinterest!

What Is Changua Bogotana?

Changua is a traditional hearty breakfast soup of the central Andes region in Colombia.

“Changua” comes from the Muisca word “xie” which means water or river, and “nygua” that means salt. A mixture of equal amounts of water and milk is heated with a dash of salt. Once it comes to a boil, an egg is cracked into the pot and poached. The broth is served in a bowl, garnished with scallions, cilantro, and a slice of crusty bread.

Steaming bowls are commonly served as a morning meal in the Boyacá and Cundinamarca area, including the capital Bogota.

I first spooned through a bowl of Changua at the bustling food market located at the top of Cerro de Monserrate in Bogota. It’s served in cheap and cheerful food stalls that transition to serving Ajiaco during lunch and dinner hours.

The popular Andean Milk and Egg Soup has a reputation as a hangover cure, also being served at night in the wee hours of the morning to partiers.

Ingredients

This easy vegetarian recipe is prepared with affordable ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store. Here’s what you’ll need on your grocery list to make this famous Colombian breakfast soup:

2 cups Water
4 cups Milk
1 tsp Butter
3 Scallions
1/2 cup Chopped Cilantro
Kosher Salt + Black Pepper
4 Eggs
5 oz Country Bread

Changua is a popular soup served at breakfast in Bogota featuring soft poached eggs.

Recipe Instructions

Follow our detailed recipe card below for easy step-by-step instructions.

Pour the water and milk int a medium pot. Add the butter, scallions, and cilantro, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer over medium-high heat. Do not allow the milk to boil or it will break. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes.
Crack 1 egg into a tea cup and gently slide the egg into the simmering soup. Repeat with each egg. Cook for 4 minutes, until the egg whites have set and the yolks are glossed over but still jammy.
To serve, divide the bread among the soup bowls. Wish a slotted spoon, remove the poached eggs out of the soup and place atop the bread in the bowls. Ladle the soup into the bowls.
Serve sprinkled with chopped cilantro and scallions.

Serve Changua Bogotana with slices of crusty bread.

Changua Bogotana Recipe Tips

This healthy soup recipe is quick and easy to make at home. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started:

Be sure to use a large pot with plenty of room so you can stir the ingredients and don’t risk having the soup bubble over onto the stove.
The most decadent Changua recipes are prepared with whole milk as the consistency is more creamy but you can use healthier low fat options like skim milk or 2%.
We recommend cracking each egg into a ramekin or tea cup so you can easily slide them into the simmering milk to poach them perfectly. If you crack the eggs directly into the pot the yolk can easily split and ruin the dish.
We like to serve this soup with homemade sourdough or a crusty European-style loaf.
Feel free to also add shredded cheese, preferably a young cheese so it melts easily like mozzarella, cheddar, havarti or gouda. If you have a Latin American market nearby try and purchase cuajada a traditional Colombian cheese.
If you like spicy food we suggest placing a bottle of hot sauce or chili flakes at the table.

Changua Bogotana is a savoury breakfast soup flavoured with cilantro and scallions.

What To Serve with Changua Bogotana

Changua in Bogota is served as an all-in-one-meal.

Steaming milk broth, oozing poached eggs, freshly chopped herbs and crusty bread arrive at the table and offer a simple and affordable morning meal.

Some restaurants also serve the Andean breakfast soup with slices of local cheese, which are dropped into the bowl, stirred with a spoon and melt into the creamy broth.

Since the soup is typically prepared at breakfast we like to serve it with a hot pot of Colombian coffee and freshly squeezed tropical juices like papaya, orange or pineapple.

If you’re hosting a Colombian-themed meal we recommend also serving authentic recipes like Limonada de Coco Colombian Lime Coconut Drink and Maduro con Queso Baked Plantain with Cheese.

We like to simmer eggs until they are still runny in the centre as the yolk enriches the herby milk broth.

Health Benefits

Our Changua Bogotana recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!

Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.

Scallions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

A good source of bone-strengthening vitamin K, cilantro is also rich in antioxidants that help protect the eyes from damage by free radicals.

Eggs contain two vital nutrients that are not present in many foods: iodine and vitamin D. Eggs are also rich in tissue-building protein and vitamin B12, which helps your body manufacture blood cells.

Serve Colombian Milk and Egg Soup at breakfast with coffee and tropical fruit juice.

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Now you're an expert on how to make authentic Changua Bogotana! — Now you’re an expert on how to make authentic Changua Bogotana!

How To Make Colombian Milk and Egg Soup

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