Zuppa toscana

Zuppa toscana

Type	Soup
Place of origin	Italy
Region or state	Tuscany
Main ingredients	Sausage, potatoes, white beans, kale

Zuppa toscana (lit. 'Tuscan soup'), also known in Italy as minestra di pane (lit. 'bread soup'), is a soup from the region of Tuscany, northern Italy. While there are many variations of zuppa toscana, its classic ingredients are cannellini beans, potatoes, and kale.^[1] A North American version, popularized by Olive Garden, is made with Italian sausage, crushed red pepper, diced white onion, bacon, garlic purée, chicken bouillon, heavy cream, potatoes, and kale.^[2]

History

According to the older generation, minestra di pane (zuppa toscana's ancestor) was originally created as a way to use up leftover, stale bread.^[3] For the poor, it was a waste to throw this bread away; instead they made a watery soup out of it.^[3] Minestra di pane has been part of Italian culture for a long time—so long, in fact, that there are legends about Leonardo da Vinci eating it himself.^[3] This soup has become part of the Tuscan identity.^[3][4]

Over time, minestra di pane was modified into zuppa toscana. Recently, this form has been made popular by Olive Garden. ^{[citation needed]}

See also

Zuppa Toscana at the Wikibooks Cookbook subproject

• Ribollita

References