Description
A hearty and rustic Tuscan soup made with stale bread, cannellini beans, and a variety of vegetables. Traditionally reboiled the next day for enhanced flavor, Ribollita is a comforting dish from Italian cucina povera.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 head of savoy cabbage, chopped
- 1/4 head of black kale (cavolo nero), chopped
- 1 medium potato, diced
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 2 cups cooked or canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 400g (14 oz) canned diced tomatoes
- 6 cups vegetable broth or water
- 4 slices stale Tuscan or country-style bread, torn into chunks
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Fresh thyme or rosemary (optional)
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 8 minutes.
- Add the potato and zucchini, and cook for 3–4 minutes more.
- Stir in the chopped cabbage, kale, and a pinch of salt. Let cook until the greens begin to wilt.
- Add the diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cover and let the soup simmer gently for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add torn bread pieces and stir well to thicken the soup.
- Continue to simmer uncovered for another 15–20 minutes until thick and stew-like.
- Serve hot, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and topped with fresh herbs if desired.
- For traditional ribollita, refrigerate overnight and reheat (“reboil”) the next day for intensified flavor.
Notes
- Use day-old bread for authentic texture and flavor.
- This soup tastes even better the next day after reheating.
- You can substitute cavolo nero with regular kale if unavailable.
- Adjust thickness by adding more or less bread as desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
