Chef John's Spanish Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo)

Chef John's Spanish Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo)
  • 6 cups cubed French bread
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced, or more to taste
  • 2 ounces ham, diced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika, or to taste
  • 6 cups chicken broth, or more as needed
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 4 large eggs


  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  2. Spread French bread onto the prepared baking sheet and drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top; gently stir to coat bread.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic in hot oil until just golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add ham; cook and stir until heated through, about 1 minute. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of paprika and cook for 1 minute more. Pour bread into pot and toss to coat with hot oil mixture.
  5. Pour chicken broth into bread mixture; add cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and stir in parsley.
  6. Crack each egg into a small bowl or cup. Make 4 depressions in the bread on top of the soup with a spoon. Slowly pour an egg into each depression. Cover the pot with a lid and cook until egg whites are firm and yolks are thick but not hard, 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls and spoon an egg on top.

04/11/2018
Chef John's Spanish Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo), recipe PT15M PT1H 5 455 calories

Comment on this content
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Place baguette..
4.1
7209
ginger beer
ginger beer
Finely shred ginger into a bowl. Zest lemons and add zest to..
3.9
5563
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-i..
4.4
4349
asparagus summer soup
asparagus summer soup
Cut asparagus stalks into 1-inch pieces; reserve tips in a b..
3.4
4166
caribbean sangria
caribbean sangria
Place orange slices, peach slices, lemon slices, and lime sl..
4.2
4272
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken ..
3.7
4318
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
Combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl..
2.9
5283
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread olive ..
2.1
4800
flourless triple chocolate cookies
flourless triple chocolate cookies
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray 2 bakin..
3.4
4616
Sopa de Ajo Mexicana (Mexican Garlic Soup)
Sopa de Ajo Mexicana (Mexican Garlic Soup)
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ..
758
Spanish Garlic Soup
Spanish Garlic Soup
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garli..
3.2
1055
Chef John's Garlic and Ginger Bok Choy
Chef John's Garlic and Ginger Bok Choy
Trim bottom from boy choy heads. Cut leaves from stalks. Cut..
973
Spanish Garlic and Vegetable Soup
Spanish Garlic and Vegetable Soup
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrot, cabbag..
1
887
Chef John's Garlic-Studded Roast Pork
Chef John's Garlic-Studded Roast Pork
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).Cut about 6 ho..
731
Chef John's Grilled Garlic and Herb Shrimp
Chef John's Grilled Garlic and Herb Shrimp
Place salt, lemon zest, and 3 cloves garlic in bowl of a mor..
1042
Chef John's Ham and Potato Soup
Chef John's Ham and Potato Soup
Melt butter in a stockpot over medium heat until golden brow..
2.5
1687