Changua Recipe: Traditional Colombian Breakfast Egg & Milk Soup 65 2026

Isabel Gaines
Changua Recipe: Traditional Colombian Breakfast Egg & Milk Soup
65
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Changua is a traditional Colombian soup that is almost always served for breakfast, and it has one of the most surprising ingredient lists you will ever find in a soup: milk, water, scallions and eggs. It is a humble, comforting dish that warms you up from the inside out and takes only 25 minutes to make.

Bowl of Colombian changua soup with poached egg and cilantro


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The base is a gentle infusion of milk and water flavored with long onion and fresh cilantro, into which the eggs are gently poached. Toasted bread goes into the bottom of the bowl first, then the egg, then the hot broth is poured over everything and finished with a sprinkle of cilantro. It is simple, economical and deeply satisfying.

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Changua served in a bowl ready to eat

Ingredients for Changua

This recipe makes 2 servings.

  • 25 g long onion (or leek or scallion as a substitute)
  • A few sprigs of cilantro
  • 4 thick slices of bread
  • 500 ml milk
  • 500 ml water
  • 10 g butter
  • Salt
  • 2 eggs

Ingredients for changua laid out on a table

How to Make Changua Step by Step

1. Chop the long onion and cilantro

First, wash and cut 25 g of long onion into small squares and finely chop a few sprigs of cilantro. Long onion, known as cebolla larga or cebolla junca in Colombia, is a type of scallion that can be hard to find outside the country. A mini leek or the green part of a scallion works perfectly as a substitute.

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Chopping long onion and cilantro on a cutting board

2. Cut and toast the bread

Cut 4 thick slices of bread into fairly large pieces and toast them until golden. You can use a toaster, a lightly greased skillet, or the oven for a few minutes at 200 °C, which is what we did. Traditionally changua is served with calado, a typical Colombian toasted bread, but regular bread works just fine.

Toasting pieces of bread for changua

3. Infuse the milk and water with onion and cilantro

Place a pot over medium heat with 500 ml of milk and 500 ml of water. When the mixture is warm, add 10 g of butter, the long onion and the cilantro, reserving a little cilantro to sprinkle over the changua at the end.

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Milk and water infusing with onion and cilantro in a pot

4. Add the eggs to the pot

Let it cook over medium heat and when the mixture is about to boil, add salt, lower the heat to medium-low and add 2 eggs, one at a time. The ideal way is to add each egg with the help of a ladle so you can gently submerge it into the milk.

Adding eggs one by one into the pot of changua

5. Cook the eggs

Let the eggs cook for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on whether you want the yolk more or less set. At this point, the changua is ready to serve.

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Eggs cooking inside the changua broth

6. Plate with toasted bread and egg

To serve the changua, place some pieces of the toasted bread in the bottom of a bowl and set an egg on top.

Bowl with toasted bread and a poached egg for changua

7. Add the broth and sprinkle with cilantro

Then pour the hot broth over the bread and egg, and sprinkle the reserved cilantro on top.

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Pouring broth over changua and sprinkling with cilantro

Tips for the Best Changua

Choose the right onion

Long onion, or cebolla larga, is the traditional choice, but if you cannot find it, a mini leek or the green part of a scallion are excellent substitutes. They give the broth that mild, sweet allium flavor without overpowering the milk.

Control the egg doneness

The only real variable in changua is how you like your eggs. Cook them 4 to 6 minutes if you want a fully set yolk, or pull them out sooner if you prefer a runny center. Add them gently with a ladle so they hold their shape in the pot.

Serve it right away

Changua is at its best the moment it is assembled, with the toasted bread still slightly crisp under the hot broth. Finish each bowl with a pinch of fresh cilantro for a bright, aromatic touch.

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Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 20 minutes
Total time 25 minutes
Servings 2
Category Breakfast
Cuisine Colombian
Calories per serving 455 kcal

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Universal Meals: Recipes

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

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And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

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Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

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After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

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On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

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And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

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Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

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🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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Isabel Gaines

Author

Isabel Gaines

As a former restaurant owner turned reporter, Isabel brings a unique perspective to Grand Goldman. With decades of experience, her articles on cooking and homemaking are both informative and engaging, reflecting her deep knowledge and love for all things culinary.


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