St. Joseph's Soup

Minestra di San Giuseppe, also known as Macco di San Giuseppe, is a traditional Italian soup that originates from an ancient religious custom. On March 19, St. Joseph's Day, it was customary to offer food to the poor, and this soup represented one of the dishes prepared for that purpose. In addition, since March 19 falls near the beginning of spring, the soup was also used to celebrate the arrival of the new season.The main ingredients of St. Joseph's Soup are broad beans and other legumes. However, there are several variations of this soup, some of which also include pasta. Here is a basic recipe for making St. Joseph's Soup:Ingredients:250 g dried broad beans150 g of other legumes (such as chickpeas, lentils, beans)1 onion2 cloves of garlic2 carrots2 potatoes2 ribs of celery1 ripe tomato1 bunch of parsley1 bay leafExtra virgin olive oilSalt and pepper to taste.Procedure:Soak the dried broad beans in cold water overnight before preparing the soup. This will help rehydrate the fava beans and reduce cooking time.Drain and rinse the fava beans after soaking.In a large pot, add the fava beans and other legumes and cover with plenty of cold water.Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the legumes cook on low heat for about 1 to 2 hours, or until soft. While cooking, you may need to add more water if necessary.Meanwhile, prepare a stir-fry with onion, garlic, carrots and celery. Finely chop them and sauté them in a pan with olive oil until soft and lightly browned.Add diced tomatoes to the stir-fry and let them cook for a few minutes.Add the soffritto to the legumes in the pot, along with a bay leaf and chopped parsley.Season with salt and pepper to taste.Continue cooking over low heat for another 30 to 40 minutes, or until all the flavors have blended and the soup has reached the desired consistency. Add water, if necessary, to achieve the desired consistency.At this point, you can decide whether to serve the soup as is or to add cooked al dente pasta. You can use a short pasta such as ditalini or tubetti. Cook the pasta separately, then drain and add it to the soup just before serving.Serve Minestra di San Giuseppe hot, perhaps accompanied by crusty bread and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.This recipe can be adapted according to personal taste and availability of ingredients. St. Joseph's Soup is a hearty and nutritious dish, ideal to enjoy during the springtime or as comfort food during the colder months.