Published: Dec 7, 2011 · Last Updated: May 21, 2022 by Dr. Sonali Ruder · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

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A hearty Italian soup with humble origins, my Tuscan Ribollita is made with vegetables and beans and thickened with leftover bread.

What is Ribollita?

Ribollita is a traditional centuries-old Tuscan soup that is made with vegetables and beans and thickened with bread. It is said that the dish originated in the Middle Ages when servants were given leftover scraps of bread.

To make a substantial meal from it, they would boil it in water with whatever inexpensive ingredients they had, such as vegetables and dried beans. And so ribollita was born.

The word “ribollita” actually means “reboiled.” It comes from the fact that traditionally, this soup is made from reboiling leftover vegetable soup the next day with the addition of bread. The process of reboiling the soup thickens it and makes it heartier. It also concentrates the flavors. It's commonly said that ribollita is even better the next day.

Many Italian cooks have their own version of ribollita. Almost all of them contain a mixture of inexpensive vegetables, cannellini beans and bread. While many versions contain cabbage and potatoes, the hallmark of the dish is cavolo negro or “black cabbage,” also known as Tuscan kale.

Tuscan kale, with its deeply wrinkled dark green leaves, has a mild flavor and sturdy texture which stands up well in this soup. It's also packed with nutrients. You can read my post all about the nutritional benefits of kale.

Most of us don’t have two days to make dinner! So I’ve taken a couple of liberties with this recipe to help you get it on the table in under an hour.

First, I use canned beans instead of dried. If you have extra time, you can boil dried beans and then use some of the cooking water in the soup.

Second, I add cubes of firm bread right at the end of the cooking process. This thickens the soup and the bites of bread are delicious as they soak up the flavors of the soup like a sponge.

How to Make Tuscan Ribollita

To make ribollita, first sauté diced onions, garlic and carrots in olive oil with garlic and chili flakes. Then add tomato paste and Tuscan kale and cook until it starts to wilt.

Next, throw in diced tomatoes, stock, thyme, bay leaf, a parmesan rind, and cannelini beans. I like to mash some of the cannelini beans to form a paste before adding it to the pot. This helps thicken the soup.

Let the soup simmer for about 25 minutes until the vegetables soften and then add your bread. As it dissolves into the liquid, it will help thicken the soup even more.

The Secret Ingredient- a Flavor Bomb

What's the secret ingredients that takes this soup to the next level? A parmesan rind. Adding the rind from a block of parmesan cheese is a traditional Italian method of adding flavor to soups.

The next time you buy fresh parmesan cheese, save the rind, which is normally discarded. Wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer to use in dishes like this. It adds an instant boost of flavor!

This vegetarian soup is a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs dish that’s filling and perfect for a cold winter’s night. It's low in calories and fat and it gets a nice boost of protein and fiber from the beans and vegetables.

Just one word of advice- you may want to double the recipe to make enough for leftovers because it tastes even better the next day!