With the chilly temps, now is the perfect time for some comfort food – southern Italian style! Minestre and zuppe are popular winter dishes in Italy.
Many are made with dried beans and simple ingredients, making them easy, healthy and not to mention cheap.
We’re talking cucina povera at it’s tastiest here! Here are three of our favorite warm winter meals.
Zuppa di Fagioli e Scarola
This classic soup is made with beans and escarole. It can be found in many parts of Italy, but it’s practically an art form in Campania. It’s a hearty and warm dish that is a meal in itself!
Zuppa di Lenticchie
This is a versatile soup that can easily be enjoyed as is or turned into pasta e lenticchie for a heartier dish. Craving some protein? This soup can also be enriched with sausage. Yum!
Ciambotta
This is a traditional Italian vegetable stew. It’s a light and delicious Calabrian dish, perfect for the winter because it is hearty without being excessively high in calories. The ciambotta is made using potatoes, red and green peppers, eggplant, red onion, and ripe tomatoes. Great served right away but it’s also good the next day as a cold salad!
Image Credits: Osteria Da Carmela, Emily Carlin, Fame di Sud
