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Best Caldo galego in London

“A regional soup built on lard, beans, greens, and potatoes—Galician comfort in a bowl.”

Caldo galego

What the real thing tastes like

Caldo galego or simply caldo (in Galician), also known as caldo gallego (in Spanish), meaning literally "Galician broth", is a traditional soup dish from Galicia. It is essentially a regional derivative (with added beans and turnip greens) of the very similar caldo verde, the traditional soup dish of neighbouring Portugal. Ingredients include repolo (cabbage), verzas (collard greens), grelos (rapini), or navizas (sweet turnip greens); potatoes; white beans; and unto (lard). Additionally it can contain fatty pork, chorizo, ham, or bacon (compango). It is served hot as a starter, often as part of almuerzo (lunch), and sometimes dinner. Traditionally it was usually served in cuncas (earthen bowls).

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Caldo galego is Galicia's answer to a bowl of pure sustenance—a traditional soup that starts with lard-rendered pork, beans, and whatever greens the season offers: cabbage, collard, rapini, or sweet turnip leaves. Potatoes thicken it into something almost stew-like. It's served hot in earthen bowls, the kind of dish that appears at lunch without pretense, warming you from the inside.

Order it here when it has

  • uses whole vegetables with purpose
  • pork and chorizo add richness
  • humble regional tradition

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