Istrian Manestra (Croatia)

An authentic recipe for traditional Istrian Manestra, celebrating the rich agricultural flavors of beans, corn, and potatoes simmered into a hearty stew.

Level Medium Prep 20 min Cook 90 min Servings 6 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

110 min

Makes 6 servings

Prep 20m

Cook 90m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Istrian Manestra, celebrating the rich agricultural flavors of beans, corn, and potatoes simmered into a hearty stew.

A traditional Istrian bean and corn soup embodying the comforting, rustic culinary heritage of coastal Croatia.

Instructions

Drain the pre-soaked borlotti beans, place them in a pot with fresh water, and boil until tender.
In a large heavy-bottomed soup pot, heat olive oil and sauté the chopped onion, garlic, carrot, and celery until softened.
Add the cubed potatoes and corn kernels to the aromatic vegetable mixture.
Add the cooked beans along with their cooking liquid (or fresh vegetable broth) and drop in the bay leaf.
Simmer gently over medium-low heat for about 60 to 90 minutes, partially mashing some of the beans and potatoes to thicken the soup naturally.
90 min
Season with salt and pepper to taste, drizzle with a little raw extra virgin olive oil before serving.

Nutrition

Calories 240

Protein 9g

Carbs 42g

Fat 5g

Fiber 8g

Sugar 5g

Sodium 410mg

Serving Size 1 bowl

Cooking Timeline

Prep 20 min

Cook 90 min

Total 110 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.3 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.6
Presentation 9.0
Nutrition 9.2
Value 9.5
Instructions 9.3
Ingredients 9.2
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 8.0
Would Make Again 9.5

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

A deeply comforting, rustic Croatian classic that balances rich earthy flavors with wholesome ingredients.

Pros

Nutritious and filling
Authentic regional profile
Naturally thick and creamy broth

Cons

Requires long simmering time for dried beans

Overview

A traditional Istrian bean and corn soup embodying the comforting, rustic culinary heritage of coastal Croatia.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Istrian Manestra, celebrating the rich agricultural flavors of beans, corn, and potatoes simmered into a hearty stew.

Tips

Mashing a portion of the boiled beans and potatoes directly in the pot creates a naturally rich, velvety broth without needing flour
Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil to finish the dish just before serving for authentic Mediterranean depth
Manestra tastes even better the next day after the flavors have completely merged