Pancotto

(Bread Soup with Vegetables)

Daniele Di Padova, Windsor, Ontario

This dish from Abruzzi is called the poor man’s dish because nothing went to waste when there was so little.

(Yield: 4 servings)

16 slices Italian bread (½-inch thick)

8 cups broccoli, rapini or potatoes

extra-virgin olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper

water

1. Slice bread into ½-inch cubes and set aside.

2.Bring 8 cups of salted water to boil and cook broccoli, rapini or potatoes until tender.

3.In 4 individual bowls, add bread cubes and pour in evenly liquid and vegetables. Drizzle each bowl with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Serve hot.

It is hearty and can be beefed up with a few additional herbs, but we decided to make it in the original way.