Actually you use leftover soup and stale bread, some sparingly cheese, let it crust over in the oven, set low. Once you have a crust, maybe 20 or 30 minutes, you repeat, about five times, until you get a basic mush. That is the base for appetizers and snacks. At least that is how I was taught in Italy. Realize recipes differ. But that was the point of ribolitta, at least as I was taught.
Interesting! I never heard of this process, five times sounds like a bit of a faff but I’m sure it results in a super tasty mush! All the Ribollite I’ve had in Tuscany were definitely on the soup side rather than mush, but yes as you say there are so many recieps out there! The main point is using leftover veggies and stale bread and re-boil, at least once. Can I ask where/who taught you?
Chef Giancarlo Giannelli at La Cucina Del Castello, 53010 Tocchi, Siena, Italy. Traditional Tuscan Cooking School. What a marvelous, magical time. Made the vegetable soup one day, and the next day used the leftovers with stale bread and cheese, set in a low oven, maybe 200 degrees F, and then let it crust over, pressing down with each layer, adding more soup, bread and cheese. Just incredible taste and results. Anyway, he said, That is ribollita, anything else is just a soup variation.
Dear Martina, just to let you know for your general knowledge, the correct expression for something ordinary and unexceptional is ‘bog standard’, not ‘box standard’. Otherwise your English is fantastic!
Well this is interesting! 🤓 I was just googling the origins of bog standard and here is what I found!
“Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps an alteration of box standard n. (although this is first attested later [1983]), after bog n.4 [a "toilet, a lavatory; the room or outhouse containing this"]. Differing theories of the origin of bog-standard have been proposed, but none proven. An immediate association with bog n.1 seems unlikely on semantic grounds. The most commonly held view is that the transition from box to bog resulted from a mishearing or misunderstanding of box standard n.”
Actually you use leftover soup and stale bread, some sparingly cheese, let it crust over in the oven, set low. Once you have a crust, maybe 20 or 30 minutes, you repeat, about five times, until you get a basic mush. That is the base for appetizers and snacks. At least that is how I was taught in Italy. Realize recipes differ. But that was the point of ribolitta, at least as I was taught.
Interesting! I never heard of this process, five times sounds like a bit of a faff but I’m sure it results in a super tasty mush! All the Ribollite I’ve had in Tuscany were definitely on the soup side rather than mush, but yes as you say there are so many recieps out there! The main point is using leftover veggies and stale bread and re-boil, at least once. Can I ask where/who taught you?
Chef Giancarlo Giannelli at La Cucina Del Castello, 53010 Tocchi, Siena, Italy. Traditional Tuscan Cooking School. What a marvelous, magical time. Made the vegetable soup one day, and the next day used the leftovers with stale bread and cheese, set in a low oven, maybe 200 degrees F, and then let it crust over, pressing down with each layer, adding more soup, bread and cheese. Just incredible taste and results. Anyway, he said, That is ribollita, anything else is just a soup variation.
This is the type of meal made for January when we all need something warming and nourishing, thank you for sharing!
My absolute pleasure Lauren! Glad to hear it ☺️
Dear Martina, just to let you know for your general knowledge, the correct expression for something ordinary and unexceptional is ‘bog standard’, not ‘box standard’. Otherwise your English is fantastic!
Hahah thank you Cecilia! I never knew that 😂 I always assumed it was box as in “out of the box”, industrial made. Off I go googling what Bog means!
Well this is interesting! 🤓 I was just googling the origins of bog standard and here is what I found!
“Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps an alteration of box standard n. (although this is first attested later [1983]), after bog n.4 [a "toilet, a lavatory; the room or outhouse containing this"]. Differing theories of the origin of bog-standard have been proposed, but none proven. An immediate association with bog n.1 seems unlikely on semantic grounds. The most commonly held view is that the transition from box to bog resulted from a mishearing or misunderstanding of box standard n.”
Makes sense to me 😅
I stand corrected!
That looks so tempting on a day like today. Will definitely give it a go, Martina
Thank you darling Moira! Let me know how you like it!