Zuppa di Ceci

Name: Zuppa di Ceci
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: San Marinese
Ingredients: 400g dried chickpeas, soaked overnight; 3 tbsp olive oil plus extra for serving; 1 onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 sprigs fresh rosemary; 1 bay leaf; 400g canned tomatoes; 1.5L water; Salt, black pepper; Crusty bread for serving

Zuppa di Ceci (TSOO-pah dee CHEH-chee)

Chickpea Soup

⏱ Prep Time 15 min + soaking

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 332 kcal

A thick, warming chickpea soup flavored with rosemary, garlic, and a generous pour of olive oil — Sammarinese winter comfort.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 14.0g

Carbs 42.0g

Fat 12.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

large pot immersion blender ladle

Presentation Guide

Vessel: terracotta bowl

Garnishes: olive oil drizzle, rosemary sprig

Accompaniments: crusty bread

Ingredients

400g dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
3 tbsp olive oil plus extra for serving
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf
400g canned tomatoes
1.5L water
Salt, black pepper
Crusty bread for serving

Instructions

1
Drain soaked chickpeas. Simmer in fresh water for 1 hour until tender. Drain, reserving cooking liquid.
2
Heat olive oil in a large pot. Sauté onion for 5 minutes until translucent.
3
Add garlic, rosemary, and bay leaf. Cook 1 minute until fragrant.
4
Add chickpeas and canned tomatoes. Pour in reserved cooking liquid to cover. Bring to a simmer.
5
Blend about one-third of the soup with an immersion blender to thicken, leaving the rest chunky.
6
Season with salt and pepper. Serve in deep bowls with a generous drizzle of olive oil and crusty bread.

💡

Did You Know?

Chickpeas were among the first crops grown on the terraced hillsides of Mount Titano, thriving in the rocky limestone soil.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
immersion blender
ladle

Garnishing

olive oil drizzle, rosemary sprig

Accompaniments

crusty bread

The Story Behind Zuppa di Ceci

Chickpea soup has sustained the people of San Marino through countless winters since the medieval period. The legume thrives in the republic's rocky terrain, and this thick soup embodies the frugal cooking philosophy of the Sammarinese, who transform simple pantry ingredients into deeply satisfying meals. The addition of rosemary from the wild hillside herbs gives it a distinctly local character.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed winter lunch 📜 Origins: Medieval

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