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Top 31 Spanish Soups

Last updated on May 15, 2026
01

Porra Antequerana

4 ·

Porra Antequerana is a Spanish soup originating from the Malaga town called Antequera. Originally, the soup was served warm, and it was made with old bread, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, vegetables, pieces of ham, hard-boiled eggs, and other ingredients the peasants had on hand. The ingredients were puréed into a soup using a mortar (porra) and pestle. Over time, the soup started to be served cold, usually as an appetizer or a tapa. Nowadays, there are many variations on porra Antequerana, with some recipes adding ingredients such as tuna on top of the soup.

02

Ajoblanco

3.9 ·

This Andalusian cold almond soup is known as the precursor of gazpacho; it originated during the Moorish middle ages, predating the arrival of tomatoes and peppers by several centuries. Ajoblanco traditionally consisted of a puréed mixture of stale bread that was moistened with vinegar and water, a hefty amount of fresh garlic, and almonds — the region's most abundant crop, but modern recipes also often include ingredients such as milk and green grapes. If available, always use Marcona almonds when making ajoblanco. The perfect starter for a summer lunch, this creamy soup is best enjoyed well chilled, drizzled with olive oil, and topped with toasted almonds.

03

Salmorejo

3.9 ·

Salmorejo is a refreshing Andalusian soup that is traditionally served cold. It is especially popular during the warm, summer days. The soup consists of puréed tomatoes, bread, garlic, oil, and vinegar. Thick and creamy, salmorejo is often garnished with ingredients such as hard-boiled eggs or Spanish ham. In some cases, it can be served as a tapa dish or as a sauce accompanying toasts or omelets.

04

Gazpachuelo

3.6 ·

Gazpachuelo is a Spanish soup originating from Malaga. Originally, it was a poor man’s dish made by local fishermen, who would prepare it with fish, fish stock, mayonnaise, potatoes, garlic, egg yolks, and wine vinegar. Over time, they started to add shrimps and clams into the soup. Nowadays, gazpachuelo is typically consumed in the winter, when it’s often accompanied by hard-boiled eggs and toasted bread, which should be dipped into the soup.

05

Gazpacho

3.6 ·

A perfect remedy for a hot summer day called gazpacho is a cold soup consisting of crushed tomatoes, finely chopped cucumbers, onions, peppers, croutons, vinegar, and olive oil. With the same level of familiarity as paella to the consumers worldwide, the soup's refreshing, cool and acidic flavors promote Spanish cuisine at its best. The dish began as a light lunch that the wives brought to their husbands in the field in order to cool them down from the hot summer sun. Shortly after, it began to be served at the end of big meals, although today it is a popular summer appetizer. Throughout Spain, there are a number of gazpacho varieties, such as gazpacho blanco (white gazpacho) or ajo blanco, a Málaga specialty made with garlic, bread, and almonds, with a garnish of green grapes. As the dish evolved, all kinds of ingredients started to be added to the soup, such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Regardless of the varieties, all gazpachos share a common thread of three key ingredients - bread, vinegar, and oil.

06

Sopa de ajo

3.6 ·

Sopa de ajo is a traditional garlic soup. It's prepared by sautéeing garlic in olive oil and Spanish smoked paprika. Stale bread and whisked or poached eggs are then added to the soup for the final touch. As for the liquids, chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even plain water will work. The soup is served piping hot, garnished with a few croutons or fresh parsley. Traditionally, sopa de ajo is consumed in the morning on Good Friday, and it's recommended to serve it with a few slices of grilled bread on the side.

07

Caldo gallego

3.5 ·

This traditional Galician dish is hearty, inexpensive, and nourishing. Although the ingredients vary from one household to the next, this flavorful broth is most often prepared with collard greens, cabbage, turnips, potatoes, white beans, lard, and meat products such as chorizo, bacon, and ham. The dish has humble origins and is mainly associated with Spanish farmers who lived off their own produce and served the dish in traditional earthen bowls known as cuncas. Caldo gallego is typically consumed in colder months because it is always served piping hot. It is believed that the soup tastes even better when reheated the next day.

08

Rancho canario

3.1 ·

Rancho canario is a traditional soup with a stew-like consistency originating from the Canary Islands. Although each kitchen has their own variation, the soup should always be hearty, filling, and very thick. It usually contains onions, chicken or beef (or both), carrots, pasta, potatoes, chickpeas, sausage such as chorizo or smoked ribs, saffron, paprika, cumin, and garlic. This thick soup is especially popular during the colder months of the year. The word rancho means mess, referring to the abundance of inexpensive ingredients used to prepare the soup, and also feed the whole family in the process. Although rancho canario usually shows up on menus as a starter, it's regularly served as a main meal due to its heartiness.

09

Sopa de almendras

3 ·

Sopa de almendras is a traditional soup. It's made with skinned and blanched almonds, garlic, stale bread, olive oil, stock, peppercorns, saffron, cumin or cinnamon, and vinegar or lemon juice. The almonds are fried with saffron, garlic, and bread, then blended with cumin, peppercorns, vinegar, and stock. The combination is mixed with the remaining stock and brought to a boil. After simmering for a short while, the soup is garnished with toasted almonds, chopped mint, or croutons. Sopa de almendras is traditionally served as the first course on Christmas Eve.

10

Olla de trigo

2.9 ·

Olla de trigo is a traditional soup that’s especially popular in Almeria. It’s usually made with a combination of chickpeas, whole wheat, bacon, chorizo, morcilla, pimentón, hot chili peppers, fennel, and a slice of bread fried in olive oil. The chili peppers, pimentón, and fried bread are pounded with a pestle and added to the cooked ingredients in the pot. Once prepared, this soup is served in deep plates, and some people like to add a bit of vinegar to help their digestion. Olla de trigo is popular on cold days and during winter.

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About this ranking

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 31 Spanish Soups” list until May 15, 2026, 1,323 ratings were recorded, of which 994 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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