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Istrian Soups for Cold Days Ahead

29 Nov 2017
Gastronomy
by Jovana Zoroe
Istrian soups are perfect for the cold days ahead. They keep you warm but are also rich in vitamins and minerals that will strengthen your immune system.

As a girl, I was not a big fan of fish soups but I’ve grown to like them. And it was Istrian fish soups in particular that changed my mind. Apart from fish, I also love all vegetable soups, not just for starters, but as a snack or as something to warm me up after a walk in the cold rain or snow, too.

Istrian Maneštra

The name comes from Italian “minestra”, meaning ‘soup’. It’s a classic Istrian soup delicacy made from vegetables, making it suitable for vegetarians, but you can also add meat to it for all the meat lovers out there. The main ingredients of this traditional soup are beans, corn, potatoes, and dried meat. You can add other vegetables to make it even tastier. The main ingredient changes the maneštra’s name, so there’s maneštra od bobići (corn), jota (sour cabbage), beans with sour beets, barley etc. My favorite is chickpeas and Brussel sprouts, giving maneštra a unique aroma.

istarske juhe 2

This soup can last for several days, just like beans and other stewed vegetables. If made with bacon or dried meat, add vegetables after it’s been cooking for half to a full hour. Chard, spinach, cauliflower and parsley should be added at the very end.

Fish Soup

The traditional Istrian soup is most often made from white fish. An example of an excellent soup would be the Savudrian Sole Soup. What makes it stand out is rice. Everything else is similar to other soups: carrot, celery, parsley, potatoes, spices – depending on your preference. Once the fish is boiled, it’s removed from the soup, cut into small pieces and put back in. For an even better taste, you can add white wine, which I can personally recommend.

istarske juhe 3

Bean Soup

If you still haven’t, now is the perfect time to try the Istrian Bean Soup because it’s delicious. You don’t need much to make it, apart from beans, vegetables and spices. The secret ingredient is the prosciutto bone that gives it that special taste. If you’re a fan of sour flavors, add some vinegar to make it just right for you.

Almost all Northwestern Istria restaurants offer great Istrian soups, so don’t skip them if you visit one!

Related posts:

  1. A First Time Traveler’s Guide to NW Istria: Gourmet
  2. Istrian Cold Appetizers
  3. 8th Days of Istrian Asparagus
  4. Istrian Asparagus Days and Malo selo konoba
About the Author
Jovana Zoroe is a graduate journalist and a lover of all forms of communication, especially the written word. She loves Istrian nature, history, and its gastronomic delicacies.

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Colours of Istria Blog

The Northwestern Istria - Colours of Istria – is composed of four beautiful towns: Umag, Novigrad, Buje and Brtonigla. Colours of Istria blog visitors who might wish to plan their destination vacation, or simply find out more, have a chance to get to know about all the colours of the cluster through all the different kinds of experiences this rich region has to offer as recorded in personal recommendations and retellings of the blog's authors – all of whom are great Istria lovers. Find more info about Colours of Istria here.
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