Zuppa toscana

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

Zuppa toscana is a broad term, literally meaning 'Tuscan^[1] soup',^[2] though in Italy it is called "minestra di pane", meaning 'bread soup'. Though there can be many variations on the same Italian food,^[3] and though there are certainly many variations under the umbrella of the term 'zuppa toscana', classic zuppa toscana's main ingredients are cannellini beans, potatoes, and kale. A North American version, popularized by Olive Garden and made with Italian sausage, crushed red pepper, diced white onion, bacon, garlic purée, chicken bouillon, heavy cream, potatoes, and kale^[4] is richer than the original.

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.^[5] For the poor, it was a waste to throw this bread away; instead they made a watery soup out of it.^[5] 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.^[5] This soup has become part of the Tuscan identity.^[5][6]

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