Minestra

Name: Minestra
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Maltese
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, diced; 2 potatoes, cubed; 2 carrots, diced; 1 turnip, diced; 200g pumpkin, cubed; 200g cauliflower florets; 200g fresh or frozen peas; 400g canned beans (white or broad); 150g small pasta (tubetti); 1.5L vegetable stock; 2 tbsp tomato paste; Salt, pepper, fresh parsley

Minestra (mi-NES-trah)

Maltese Thick Vegetable Soup

⏱ Prep Time 20 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 262 kcal

A thick, hearty Maltese vegetable soup loaded with seasonal vegetables, beans, and small pasta, served as a complete meal with crusty bread.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 12.0g

Carbs 40.0g

Fat 6.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten

Equipment Needed

large pot ladle cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep ceramic bowl

Garnishes: parsley, olive oil drizzle

Accompaniments: Maltese bread, gbejniet

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 potatoes, cubed
2 carrots, diced
1 turnip, diced
200g pumpkin, cubed
200g cauliflower florets
200g fresh or frozen peas
400g canned beans (white or broad)
150g small pasta (tubetti)
1.5L vegetable stock
2 tbsp tomato paste
Salt, pepper, fresh parsley

Instructions

1
Heat olive oil, sauté onion until translucent.
2
Add potatoes, carrots, turnip, pumpkin, and cauliflower. Stir 3 min.
3
Add tomato paste, pour in stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer 20 min.
4
Add peas, beans, and pasta. Cook 10 min until pasta is tender.
5
Season with salt and pepper. The soup should be very thick.
6
Serve in deep bowls with chopped parsley, olive oil, and crusty Maltese bread.

💡

Did You Know?

Maltese minestra is intentionally thick enough for a spoon to nearly stand up in — if it is thin, it is not minestra.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
ladle
cutting board

Garnishing

parsley, olive oil drizzle

Accompaniments

Maltese bread, gbejniet

The Story Behind Minestra

Minestra is the most fundamental dish in Maltese home cooking, a thick vegetable soup that has sustained island families for millennia. Unlike Italian minestrone which is lighter, Maltese minestra is deliberately thick and filling, reflecting the need to make hearty meals from garden vegetables.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch or dinner year-round 📜 Origins: Ancient

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