The Atlas · A Northern Corner of Italy

Italian Soups & Stews

Just 117 of Italy's 1,382 ranked dishes are soups or stews, a thin slice for a nation of pasta. By our raters the best is Gulash triestino, a paprika-dark beef stew from Trieste, Nº 1,660 worldwide.

117 dishes ranked·8.5% of the cuisine·763 diner ratings·Top rank Nº 1,660

Italy pours its genius into pasta and pudding, not the pot, so this is one of its shallowest departments: 117 ranked bowls, 8.5% of the cuisine. Stranger still, the top of the ranking barely tastes Italian. The best-rated is Gulash triestino, a Trieste stew built on Hungarian paprika, and second is Südtiroler gulasch from South Tyrol, both legacies of the Austro-Hungarian border.

Head south and the pot turns Italian again: Tuscany's peppery peposo, the wild-boar cinghiale in umido, the chickpea comfort of pasta e ceci. Fame and rank pull apart, as ever, and no Italian soup cracks the world's upper tiers, Gulash triestino sitting at Nº 1,660. Read them below: the signature stews, by region, or the complete list of all 117.

The Signature Stews

Twelve signature bowls in rank order, four told in full, then eight more from the pot.

Gulash triestino, stew from Italy
Plate IStew · Trieste

1Nº 1,660 worldwide

Gulash triestino

Stew · Trieste

Trieste's take on goulash, born of the city's Austro-Hungarian past. Beef is simmered slowly with onions, tomato and Hungarian hot paprika, then pulled toward Italy with rosemary, thyme, marjoram and bay. The result is a deep, spice-dark stew meant for polenta.

★ 3.9|6 ratings

Südtiroler gulasch, stew from Italy

2Südtiroler gulaschNº 1,823

Stew · South Tyrol

South Tyrol's version of goulash, thicker and darker than the Hungarian original. Beef cooks down with onions, pancetta, garlic and paprika, with stock ladled in bit by bit until the sauce turns glossy. A mountain stew for cold Alpine evenings, usually served over polenta.

★ 3.9|9 ratings

Capriolo alla Valdostana, stew from Italy

3Capriolo alla ValdostanaNº 2,600

Stew · Aosta Valley

A rich venison stew from the Aosta Valley, once a festive rarity. The meat sits overnight in a peppery vinegar marinade, then simmers slowly with red wine, grappa, garlic, cloves and cinnamon until tender. A wintry Sunday dish of the Italian Alps.

★ 3.8|3 ratings

La jota triestina, soup from Italy

4La jota triestinaNº 2,652

Soup · Trieste

Trieste's hearty winter soup, thick with beans, potatoes and sauerkraut. Garlic, pancetta and potato are fried in olive oil and folded into the beans, while cumin and bay perfume the kraut. Sour, smoky and filling, it is border-country cooking at its most warming.

★ 3.8|3 ratings

  1. Pasta e ceci, vegetable soup from Italy5

    Pasta e ceci

    Nº 2,818

    Vegetable Soup · Italy★ 3.8

  2. Peposo, stew from Italy6

    Peposo

    Nº 2,833

    Stew · Tuscany★ 3.8

  3. Spezzatino, stew from Italy7

    Spezzatino

    Nº 2,990

    Stew · Tuscany★ 3.8

  4. Minestra di patate e verza, stew from Italy8

    Minestra di patate e verza

    Nº 3,234

    Stew · Basilicata★ 3.8

  5. S9

    Stracotto di somaro

    Nº 3,284

    Stew · Province of Modena★ 3.8

  6. Cinghiale in umido, stew from Italy10

    Cinghiale in umido

    Nº 3,501

    Stew · Tuscany★ 3.8

  7. Minestra di pane, bread soup from Italy11

    Minestra di pane

    Nº 3,504

    Bread Soup · Tuscany★ 3.8

  8. Broccoli and Potato Soup (Zuppa di broccoli e patate), vegetable soup from Italy12

    Broccoli and Potato Soup (Zuppa di broccoli e patate)

    Nº 3,755

    Vegetable Soup · Italy★ 3.7

The Gazetteer

Where Italy's stews are born

The regions of Italy with the deepest pots. Choose one to filter the complete ledger below.

Placed dishes only · top 6 regions

  7. Another 27 ranked dishes are logged simply as pan-Italian, with no single regional home.

The Complete Ledger

All 117 Italian soups & stews in the world ranking, every entry.

117 entries
  1. 1,660 Gulash triestino Stew Trieste ★ 3.9
  2. 1,823 Südtiroler gulasch Stew South Tyrol ★ 3.9
  3. 2,600 Capriolo alla Valdostana Stew Aosta Valley ★ 3.8
  4. 2,652 La jota triestina Soup Trieste ★ 3.8
  5. 2,818 Pasta e ceci Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 3.8
  6. 2,833 Peposo Stew Tuscany ★ 3.8
  7. 2,990 Spezzatino Stew Tuscany ★ 3.8
  8. 3,234 Minestra di patate e verza Stew Basilicata ★ 3.8
  9. 3,284 S Stracotto di somaro Stew Province of Modena ★ 3.8
  10. 3,501 Cinghiale in umido Stew Tuscany ★ 3.8
  11. 3,504 Minestra di pane Bread Soup Tuscany ★ 3.8
  12. 3,755 Broccoli and Potato Soup (Zuppa di broccoli e patate) Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 3.7
  13. 3,966 Cinghiale in dolceforte Stew Tuscany ★ 3.7
  14. 3,973 M Minestra sporca Soup Brescia ★ 3.7
  15. 4,165 Stracciatella alla Romana Soup Lazio ★ 3.7
  16. 4,457 Tiroler Barley Soup (Südtiroler Gerstensuppe) Soup South Tyrol ★ 3.7
  17. 4,557 Zuppa di patate Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 3.7
  18. 4,631 Buridda Stew Liguria ★ 3.7
  19. 4,711 Lenticchie in umido Stew Italy ★ 3.7
  20. 4,895 Zuppa alla Valdostana Soup Aosta Valley ★ 3.7
  21. 4,991 Zuppa Pavese Soup Pavia ★ 3.7
  22. 5,303 Carbonade Valdostana Stew Aosta Valley ★ 3.6
  23. 5,357 Scattone Soup Molise ★ 3.6
  24. 5,477 Bagnun Fish Soup Sestri Levante ★ 3.6
  25. 5,485 Stracotto alla fiorentina Stew Florence ★ 3.6
  26. 5,502 Mesciua Vegetable Soup Province of La Spezia ★ 3.6
  27. 5,521 S Soupe crasse Bread Soup Italy ★ 3.6
  28. 5,528 Ceci in umido Stew Italy ★ 3.6
  29. 5,703 Ribollita Vegetable Soup Tuscany ★ 3.6
  30. 5,812 Zuppa Toscana Soup Tuscany ★ 3.6
  31. 5,974 Acquacotta Bread Soup Tuscany ★ 3.6
  32. 6,221 Vellutata di zucca Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 3.6
  33. 6,293 Pane cotto Bread Soup Italy ★ 3.5
  34. 6,361 Carabaccia Vegetable Soup Tuscany ★ 3.5
  35. 6,408 Seppie con i piselli Stew Italy ★ 3.5
  36. 6,454 Fagioli all'uccelletto Stew Tuscany ★ 3.5
  37. 6,650 Coniglio alla cacciatora Stew Italy ★ 3.5
  38. 6,673 Pappa al pomodoro Vegetable Soup Tuscany ★ 3.5
  39. 6,764 Minestra di farro Soup Italy ★ 3.5
  40. 6,929 Passatelli in brodo Soup Emilia-Romagna ★ 3.5
  41. 7,069 Cacciucco Stew Livorno ★ 3.5
  42. 7,203 Minestra maritata Soup Metropolitan City of Naples ★ 3.4
  43. 7,495 Minestra di ceci Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 3.4
  44. 7,581 Burrida (Liguria) Seafood Soup Liguria ★ 3.3
  45. 7,642 Cassoeula Stew Lombardy ★ 3.3
  46. 7,656 Brodetto Stew Italy ★ 3.3
  47. 7,678 Fagiolata Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 3.3
  48. 7,683 Finanziera Stew Piedmont ★ 3.3
  49. 7,951 Coda alla vaccinara Stew Rome ★ 3.2
  50. 8,210 Pasta e fagioli Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 3.2
  51. 8,417 Tapulone Stew Borgomanero ★ 0.0
  52. 8,425 Farinata di cavolo nero Vegetable Soup Tuscany ★ 0.0
  53. 8,713 Minestrone Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 2.6
  54. 8,727 Stinco con verdure Stew Italy ★ 0.0
  55. 8,738 Trippa alla Romana Stew Rome ★ 2.5
  56. 9,049 Rustida Stew Piedmont ★ 0.0
  57. 9,170 M Maccu Vegetable Soup Sicily ★ 0.0
  58. 9,230 F Fave al guanciale Stew Lazio ★ 0.0
  59. 9,261 S Stoccafisso alla Genovese Stew Genoa ★ 0.0
  60. 9,263 Bro’ brusà Soup Trento ★ 0.0
  61. 9,418 Brodetto alla vastese Seafood Soup Vasto ★ 0.0
  62. 9,421 F Fricandó dama bianca Stew Issime ★ 0.0
  63. 9,434 Frantoiana Vegetable Soup Tuscany ★ 0.0
  64. 9,439 Pastissada de caval Stew Province of Verona ★ 0.0
  65. 9,442 Scottiglia Stew Tuscany ★ 0.0
  66. 9,457 Z Zuppa di castagne Soup Italy ★ 0.0
  67. 9,478 F Fongadina Stew Veneto ★ 0.0
  68. 9,480 Radicchio e fagioli Stew Veneto ★ 0.0
  69. 9,687 Artichoke and Potato Soup (Zuppa di carciofi e patate) Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 0.0
  70. 9,688 Z Zuppa alla ueca Vegetable Soup Aosta Valley ★ 0.0
  71. 9,689 M Minestrone dauno Vegetable Soup Apulia ★ 0.0
  72. 9,691 Z Zuppa di taccole Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 0.0
  73. 9,777 B Budino di pollo in brodo Chicken Soup Emilia-Romagna ★ 0.0
  74. 9,858 G Gurguglione Stew Elba ★ 0.0
  75. 9,947 L Lepre alla trentina Stew Trentino ★ 0.0
  76. 10,045 Z Zuppa crema di piselli Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 0.0
  77. 10,047 S Stufato di castrato con patate Stew Apulia ★ 0.0
  78. 10,057 Agnello brodettato Stew Rome ★ 0.0
  79. 10,176 C Caldaro Fish Soup Monte Argentario ★ 0.0
  80. 10,219 M Minestra spersa Meat Soup Basilicata ★ 0.0
  81. 10,334 Sbroscia Fish Soup Bolsena ★ 0.0
  82. 10,358 Fennel Soup (Zuppa di finocchio) Vegetable Soup Italy ★ 0.0
  83. 10,380 Minestra di lenticchie e pasta Soup Italy ★ 0.0
  84. 10,381 Chickpeas and Chestnuts Soup (Zuppa di ceci e castagne) Soup Lazio ★ 0.0
  85. 10,383 Spezzatino speziato Stew Italy ★ 0.0
  86. 10,425 Scafata Stew Umbria ★ 0.0
  87. 10,457 C Carcerato Offal Soup Province of Pistoia ★ 0.0
  88. 10,471 E Escarole Soup (Minestra di scarola) Soup Italy ★ 0.0
  89. 10,498 S Shepherd's Bread Soup (Pane del pastore) Bread Soup Basilicata ★ 0.0
  90. 10,506 Zimino di ceci Vegetable Soup Liguria ★ 0.0
  91. 10,515 Frittedda Siciliana Stew Palermo ★ 0.0
  92. 10,526 Z Zuppa alla Canavese Bread Soup Metropolitan City of Turin ★ 0.0
  93. 10,534 L Lepre alla teramana Stew Province of Teramo ★ 0.0
  94. 10,540 Garmugia Vegetable Soup Lucca ★ 0.0
  95. 10,562 M Minestra spezzata Soup Rome ★ 0.0
  96. 10,563 M Minestra di sedani Vegetable Soup Abruzzo ★ 0.0
  97. 10,564 L Licurdia Soup Calabria ★ 0.0
  98. 10,579 C Cacciucco alla Viareggina Stew Viareggio ★ 0.0
  99. 10,591 Lepre in salmi Stew Italy ★ 0.0
  100. 10,593 Bordatino Vegetable Soup Tuscany ★ 0.0
  101. 10,596 Ligurian Mussel Soup (Zuppa di muscoli) Seafood Soup Liguria ★ 0.0
  102. 10,602 Z Zuppa di fagiano Meat Soup Tuscany ★ 0.0
  103. 10,603 Paparot Soup Friuli-Venezia Giulia ★ 0.0
  104. 10,604 I Impastoiata Soup Umbria ★ 0.0
  105. 10,605 M Millecosedde Soup Calabria ★ 0.0
  106. 10,675 C Chestnut and Rice Soup (Zuppa di riso e castagne) Soup Piedmont ★ 0.0
  107. 10,678 Cardone Vegetable Soup Campania ★ 0.0
  108. 10,679 Bieta in brodo Vegetable Soup Calabria ★ 0.0
  109. 10,684 Asparagus Soup (Zuppa di asparagi) Soup Calabria ★ 0.0
  110. 10,686 B Bazzoffia Soup Province of Latina ★ 0.0
  111. 10,711 Ginestrata Soup Tuscany ★ 0.0
  112. 10,712 Z Zuppa de mele e fagioli Soup Trentino-South Tyrol ★ 0.0
  113. 10,733 Chicory Soup (Zuppa del monaco) Soup Basilicata ★ 0.0
  114. 10,754 Verzata Stew Lombardy ★ 0.0
  115. 10,757 Minestra dei morti Soup Milan ★ 0.0
  116. 10,789 R Ris e malastre Soup Biella ★ 0.0
  117. 10,825 M Minestra di riso e indivia Soup Italy ★ 0.0
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Questions, Answered

Italian soups & stews, frequently asked, answered from 763 ratings.

What is the best Italian soup or stew?
By our diners' ratings it is Gulash triestino, the paprika-rich beef stew of Trieste, at Nº 1,660 worldwide. Behind it come South Tyrol's darker Südtiroler gulasch, the Aosta Valley venison stew capriolo alla Valdostana, and Trieste's bean-and-sauerkraut soup la jota triestina.
Is Italy actually known for soups and stews?
Not really. Only 117 of Italy's 1,382 ranked dishes fall here, 8.5% of the cuisine, against a huge pasta and dessert bench. Italy simmers when it does, but its fame rides bowls of pasta, not broth, so this stays one of its shallowest departments.
Why is the top Italian stew a goulash?
Because the north-east once answered to Vienna. Trieste and South Tyrol spent centuries inside the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the paprika stew came with it. Gulash triestino keeps the Hungarian spice but turns Italian with rosemary, thyme and bay, which is why it tops the ranking here.
What is peposo?
Peposo is a Tuscan beef stew, slow-cooked in red wine with a bruising amount of crushed black pepper and plenty of garlic. Legend ties it to the kilns that fired Florence's Duomo tiles, where the pot sat all day. It ranks Nº 2,833 in the world.
Which region of Italy makes the most soups and stews?
Tuscany, by a distance: 17 ranked bowls, from peposo and cinghiale in umido to the bread soups minestra di pane and ribollita. The Aosta Valley, Basilicata, Liguria, Rome and Calabria trail well behind with four apiece.
Where else should I look for great soups and stews?
Across the borders and beyond. Neighbouring France fields 43 ranked bowls, Croatia 58, Greece 28. And worldwide the department is vast, 1,592 from 176 countries, topped by Moldova's sour-chicken Zeama at Nº 3. See Soups & Stews worldwide.

This Department, Elsewhere

Soups & stews from Italy's neighbours, ranked the same way.

SpanishSoups & Stews69CroatianSoups & Stews58PortugueseSoups & Stews29GreekSoups & Stews28SlovenianSoups & Stews20MalteseSoups & Stews8BosnianSoups & Stews6SerbianSoups & Stews6MacedonianSoups & Stews5MontenegrinSoups & Stews2AlbanianSoups & Stews2MonegasqueSoups & Stews1AndorranSoups & Stews1
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