{"id":17428,"date":"2024-07-29T15:32:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T15:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fincalasnuevas.com\/?p=17428"},"modified":"2026-08-16T13:21:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T13:21:51","slug":"sopa-perota-a-gastronomic-festival-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/sopa-perota-a-gastronomic-festival-in-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"Sopa Perota, a gastronomic festival in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><strong>Sopa Perota a gastronomic festival in \u00c1lora. Sopa Perota is a traditional Andalusian dish from \u00c1lora, a white village in the province of M\u00e1laga. Every year, this local speciality is celebrated during D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas, a gastronomic festival where thousands of portions of the famous soup are handed out. If you like to venture beyond the well-known tourist attractions during your holiday in Andalusia, this is a festival you shouldn&#8217;t miss. <\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>It is not only a chance to taste a traditional dish from \u00c1lora, but also a wonderful way to experience local life: families and friends gathering together, music in the streets, market stalls and, of course, plenty of Sopa Perota. We tell you where Sopa Perota comes from, what to expect during the festival in \u00c1lora and how you can make this traditional Andalusian dish yourself.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2><strong>What is Sopa Perota? <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>Sopa Perota is a traditional dish from \u00c1lora made with stale bread, tomatoes, peppers, onion, potatoes, garlic, olive oil and other simple ingredients. Despite its name, it isn&#8217;t quite a soup as we usually know it. The bread absorbs almost all the liquid, creating a hearty and nutritious dish that was ideal for farmers and agricultural workers. The name Perota refers to the people of \u00c1lora, who are known locally as perotes and perotas.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2><strong>The history of Sopa Perota <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>Sopa Perota originated in \u00c1lora, one of the white villages in the province of M\u00e1laga. The dish has its roots in the simple farming life that shaped this part of Andalusia for centuries. Many local people worked on the land and prepared their meals using ingredients that were inexpensive and readily available. Bread, tomatoes, peppers, onions, potatoes, garlic and olive oil therefore formed the basis of many traditional dishes.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Exactly when Sopa Perota was first made is unknown, but the recipe dates back to at least the 19th century. According to local tradition, farmers and agricultural workers would take the ingredients with them when they went out to work in the fields. During their break, they prepared a filling meal that provided enough energy for a long day of physical work. And, as with many traditional Andalusian dishes, very little went to waste. Stale bread that had become too hard to eat was given a second life in Sopa Perota.<\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17433 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Gastronomic-festival-Sopa-Perota--1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Gastronomic festival Sopa Perota\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Gastronomic-festival-Sopa-Perota--1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Gastronomic-festival-Sopa-Perota--980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Gastronomic-festival-Sopa-Perota--480x360.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/div>\n<p>What ingredients are used in Sopa Perota?<\/p>\n<p>Traditional Sopa Perota is made with simple, local ingredients. The exact recipe can vary from one family to another, but bread, tomatoes, peppers, onion, potatoes, garlic, olive oil and water usually form the basis. Some recipes also include asparagus, mint, saffron or paprika. Sopa Perota is sometimes served with olives, cucumber, orange or figs. It may sound like an unusual combination at first, but the fresh and sweet flavours of the fruit work surprisingly well with this hearty dish.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas: a gastronomic festival in \u00c1lora <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas is an annual gastronomic and cultural festival in \u00c1lora celebrating the village&#8217;s traditional Sopa Perota. The festival normally takes place in October and attracts visitors from \u00c1lora and the surrounding villages. During the festival, the centre of \u00c1lora turns into one big celebration. Food is, of course, an important part of the day. You can taste Sopa Perota and discover other local products and dishes. But this festival is about much more than food. There are stalls selling artisan products, children&#8217;s activities, music and other cultural events. You can also hear traditional\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/verdiales-in-andalusia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Verdiales<\/a>, a unique style of folk music and dance originating in the province of M\u00e1laga.<\/p>\n<p>One of the things we particularly like about this festival is that it hasn&#8217;t been created especially for tourists. Above all, it is a celebration for the people of \u00c1lora and the surrounding area. And that is exactly what makes it so much fun to experience. Thousands of free portions of Sopa Perota One of the highlights of the festival takes place at\u00a0Plaza Baja de la Desped\u00eda\u00a0in \u00c1lora&#8217;s historic centre. Huge quantities of Sopa Perota are prepared here and thousands of free portions are handed out. Watching the enormous pans and seeing how this traditional dish is prepared is an experience in itself. Be prepared for a queue when they start serving!<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t fancy waiting? Simply continue wandering through the village. Local associations and other participants also offer food and drinks during the festival. We actually think this can be even more fun. Pick up a plate of food somewhere, order a drink and find yourself a spot among the locals. There is no need to rush from one activity to another. Just watch, taste and enjoy.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17424 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/El-dia-de-sopas-perotas-in-Alora-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"El d\u00eda de sopas perotas in \u00c1lora\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/El-dia-de-sopas-perotas-in-Alora-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/El-dia-de-sopas-perotas-in-Alora-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/El-dia-de-sopas-perotas-in-Alora-480x360.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Why is the Sopa Perota festival so special? <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>What makes D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas special is the way food, history and everyday Andalusian life come together. You are not simply visiting a food festival. You are discovering a dish that is directly connected to \u00c1lora&#8217;s agricultural past. And, at the same time, the whole village is celebrating. For us, this is exactly what makes a holiday in Andalusia so enjoyable.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Of course, places such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/caminito-del-rey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Caminito del Rey<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/malaga-what-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">M\u00e1laga<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/ronda-is-andalusias-most-romantic-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ronda<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/el-torcal-a-unique-natural-park-in-malaga\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">El Torcal<\/a>\u00a0are beautiful and well worth visiting. But it is often at these local festivals that you really get a taste of everyday life in Andalusia.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2><strong>When is the Sopa Perota festival in \u00c1lora? <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas is held every year in October in \u00c1lora. The exact date and programme may vary each year, so if you are staying in the area around this time, it is a good idea to check the latest programme shortly before your visit. \u00c1lora is easy to reach from Finca Las Nuevas, making the festival perfect to combine with a visit to the historic centre of the village.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17437 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-gastronomic-festival-in-Alora-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Sopa Perota gastronomic festival in \u00c1lora\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-gastronomic-festival-in-Alora-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-gastronomic-festival-in-Alora-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-gastronomic-festival-in-Alora-480x360.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/div>\n<h2><strong>How to make Sopa Perota: the traditional recipe <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Can&#8217;t wait until October? You can also make Sopa Perota yourself. As with so many traditional dishes, there isn&#8217;t one single recipe used by every family. The recipe below will give you a good taste of this typical speciality from \u00c1lora.<\/p>\n<div><strong>Ingredients for Sopa Perota<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>500 g white bread, cut into pieces<\/li>\n<li>500 g tomatoes, peeled and chopped<\/li>\n<li>130 g peppers, chopped<\/li>\n<li>130 g onion, finely chopped<\/li>\n<li>125 g asparagus, cut into pieces<\/li>\n<li>300 g potatoes, peeled and sliced<\/li>\n<li>2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or crushed<\/li>\n<li>250 ml olive oil<\/li>\n<li>1 litre water<\/li>\n<li>Salt to taste<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Optional:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Fresh mint<\/li>\n<li>Saffron<\/li>\n<li>Paprika<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>To serve:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Olives<\/li>\n<li>Orange<\/li>\n<li>Cucumber<\/li>\n<li>* Figs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>How do you make Sopa Perota? <\/strong><\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li>Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a frying pan and fry the potato slices with a little salt. Add the garlic if desired.<\/li>\n<li>Once the potatoes are cooked and lightly browned, remove them from the pan and set aside.<\/li>\n<li>Using the same oil, gently fry the onion, peppers and asparagus until soft.<\/li>\n<li>Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes. Add paprika and saffron to taste if desired.<\/li>\n<li>Taste and add a little more salt if necessary.<\/li>\n<li>Return the fried potato slices to the pan.<\/li>\n<li>Add the water and bring everything to the boil.<\/li>\n<li>Remove the pan from the heat.<\/li>\n<li>Cover the bottom of a large earthenware dish, or individual plates, with pieces of white bread.<\/li>\n<li>Pour the hot mixture over the bread. Do not stir it. Allow the bread to slowly absorb the liquid. The bread should eventually be completely moist without too much broth remaining.<\/li>\n<li>Leave the Sopa Perota to rest for a few minutes before serving.<\/li>\n<li>Add some fresh mint if you like and serve your Sopa Perota with olives, pieces of orange, cucumber or figs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u00a1Buen provecho!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17441 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-traditional-dish-in-Spain-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Sopa Perota, traditional dish in Spain\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-traditional-dish-in-Spain-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-traditional-dish-in-Spain-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Sopa-Perota-traditional-dish-in-Spain-480x360.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Frequently asked questions about Sopa Perota <\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Where does Sopa Perota come from? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div>Sopa Perota originates from\u00a0\u00c1lora in the province of M\u00e1laga, Andalusia. The dish is closely connected to the village&#8217;s agricultural past.<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Why is it called Sopa Perota? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div>The people of \u00c1lora are known as\u00a0perotes\u00a0and\u00a0perotas. Sopa Perota therefore literally refers to the soup of the people of \u00c1lora. Is Sopa Perota really a soup? Not quite. Although\u00a0sopa\u00a0means soup, the bread absorbs almost all the liquid during preparation. This makes Sopa Perota much thicker and heartier than an ordinary soup.<\/div>\n<h3><strong>When is D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div>The\u00a0D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas\u00a0gastronomic festival is held every year in October in \u00c1lora. The exact date may vary from year to year.<\/div>\n<h3><strong>What can you do at the Sopa Perota festival? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<div>You can taste Sopa Perota and other local dishes, browse stalls selling artisan products, enjoy music and discover traditions from \u00c1lora and the province of M\u00e1laga.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Is the Sopa Perota festival worth visiting as a tourist?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div>Absolutely. Precisely because it is a genuine local celebration, it is a wonderful opportunity to experience Andalusian culture, gastronomy and everyday village life during your holiday. Discover the real Andalusia from Finca Las Nuevas<\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17445 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/unique-holiday-spot-in-Spain-1024x819.jpg\" alt=\"unique holiday spot in Spain\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/unique-holiday-spot-in-Spain-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/unique-holiday-spot-in-Spain-980x784.jpg 980w, https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/unique-holiday-spot-in-Spain-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/div>\n<div>\n<h2><strong>Discover the real Andalusia from Finca Las Nuevas<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Would you like to do more than simply see Andalusia during your holiday? Would you like to experience it too? Then Finca Las Nuevas is a wonderful place to start. Our more than 100-year-old olive farm is tucked away in the hills near \u00c1lora, surrounded by olive and almond trees. Here you will find small-scale holiday homes, a swimming pool, plenty of peace and space, and beautiful views across the Andalusian countryside.<\/p>\n<p>And, of course, we are always happy to share our favourite places and tips for discovering the Andalusia that we love. From famous sights to that little village festival you would otherwise never have known existed.<\/p>\n<p>Relax, Refresh, Enjoy!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sopa Perota a gastronomic festival in \u00c1lora. Sopa Perota is a traditional Andalusian dish from \u00c1lora, a white village in the province of M\u00e1laga. Every year, this local speciality is celebrated during D\u00eda de las Sopas Perotas, a gastronomic festival where thousands of portions of the famous soup are handed out. If you like to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":17429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[128,129,236,131],"tags":[142,229,230,231],"class_list":["post-17428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities","category-general-information","category-spaanse-recepten-en","category-spanish-recipes","tag-culture","tag-spanish-dish","tag-spanish-history","tag-traditional-dish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17428"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19429,"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17428\/revisions\/19429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fincalasnuevas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}