Istrian maneštra is a Croatian take on the popular Italian minestrone soup. This hearty and thick stew-like soup is made with dried meat, beans, and spring corn. There are numerous variations on the dish, so maneštra is typically served as the first course when dried meat is omitted, and if it is prepared with meat, the dish is then usually served as a main course.
Carrots, celery, turnips, onions, and tomatoes can all be used in maneštra, which is often flavored with parsley, black pepper, olive oil, and bay leaves. There is also the annual Maneštra Festival in the county of Gračišće.
VARIATIONS OF Maneštra
MOST ICONIC Maneštra
This comforting bean stew made with shredded pickled turnip (kisela repa) or sauerkraut (kiselo zelje) is traditionally prepared in northern parts of Croatia. To prepare it, dried beans are soaked overnight, boiled with smoked pork shin or ribs and bacon until cooked, then combined with pickled vegetables.
The final touch lies in the thickening with a mixture of fried crushed garlic and a small amount of flour. Grah s kiselom repom is best enjoyed with slices of crusty homemade bread, and it tastes even better when paired with cooked sausages.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Istarska jota is an old dish that has been considered a poor man’s meal in the past. It is made with simple ingredients such as beans, sauerkraut or sour turnips, potatoes, bacon, spare ribs, onions, and garlic. All of the ingredients are seasoned with a few selected spices.
The only constants of the dish are sauerkraut and olive oil, an unusual blend of Mediterranean and Central European influences on the region. This stew or thick soup is extremely popular in Istria and north-western Croatia, but also in parts of Slovenia and north-eastern Italy, specifically the territories that were under the Austro-Hungarian rule.
MOST ICONIC Istarska jota
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.