Italian Stale Bread Soup: tasty, no-waste recipe called Supa Mituna

Posted by

Annarita Belliardo

May 22, 2025

On May 22, 2025

Preparation: 10 mins

Cooking: 40 mins

Difficulty: easy

Yields: 6 portions

Cost: very low

If you want to go straight to the recipe click here

Introduction to Italian Stale Bread Soup

Italian Stale Bread Soup, or with it’s original name Supa Mitunà, is much more than a simple soup. It is a symbol of the ancient cuisine of the poor of Piedmont region. Thanks to its authentic goodness, anti-waste philosophy, and deep connection with the territory, this historic recipe is back in the spotlight today. We discovered this humble recipe thanks to Annarita Belliardo of the magical universe of Atelier Mal’Erba. It is a true gastronomic heritage to be rediscovered and shared.

What is Italian Stale Bread Soup, and why should you try it?

This traditional Piedmontese soup embodies a perfect balance of simplicity, nutrition, flavor, and sustainability. Made with humble ingredients like stale bread, seasonal vegetables, broth, and local cheeses, Supa Mitunà exemplifies how peasant cooking can transform simplicity into excellence.

An ancient recipe passed down through generations

We thank Annarita for sharing this delicious family heirloom with us. The Supa Mitunà recipe belongs to her mother.

Another fabulous and sustainable recipe was also provided to us by Annarita: Garlic Soup. If you’re interested, you can find it here.

To me, these are the true treasures of Italian regional cuisine—dishes that seem simple yet are full of history, taste, gratitude, and wisdom.

An example of sustainable cooking and zero waste

Even before the concept of a circular economy or “food waste” existed, Italian stale bread soup was already putting such principles into practice. With just a few pantry ingredients, you can make a complete, tasty, and nutritious dish. It’s a perfect idea for those looking for anti-waste recipes that highlight local products and for those who prefer healthy, wholesome foods year-round.

The health benefits of Italian stale bread soup

In addition to being tasty and sustainable, this Piedmontese soup is very healthy. It falls right into the category of foods Hippocrates spoke of in relation to medicine: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants due to the use of fresh vegetables.
It is easily digestible due to the long, slow cooking process and the retrograded starch found in stale bread.
It is 100% genuine with no preservatives or industrial additives.
It is customizable according to the season and available ingredients.
It’s perfect for those looking for nutritious yet light dishes.

After all this information, now you may be wondering what Supa Mitunà means in Italian, before you discover the recipe

Origins and meaning of the name Supa Mitunà and cooking methods

The term “supa” is intuitive, but the same cannot be said for “mitunà” (or “mitonà”) also for Italians, which comes from the Piedmontese verb “mitonè,” meaning “to simmer.” It is precisely this slow cooking that is at the heart of the dish, with flavors slowly blending to create a soup with an enveloping aroma, texture, and deep flavor. Of course, slow cooking presupposes a fire-place or stove, which, while passively heating the room, also cooks a delicious soup. However, if you don’t have a fire place or the weather is too hot for a heater, you can still adopt a sustainable and slow cooking: passive cooking technique. Use the regular gas stove for about twenty minutes, then wrap the pot in heavy blankets to keep it warm.

Learn more about passive cooking here.

Buon appetito and good revolution to all!
Başak

Ingredients for a delicious Italian Stale bread soup

500 grams or 1/2 pound of stale rustic bread
30 grams or 3 tbsps of extravirgin olive oil
2 onions
1 liter or 4 cups of broth (vegetable broth made with garlic and sage, mallow, and vegetable scraps, such as the green parts of leeks and celery)
2 sprigs of rosemary
2 teaspoons of grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast (optional)
Pepper and salt to taste

TO GET YOUR FREE SEASONAL VEGETABLE AND FRUIT CALENDAR

Directions for an easy Italian Stale Bread Soup

Are you ready to transform these simple ingredients and create a prelude to liquid pleasure?

Step 1. Sauté onions in oil.

Step 2. Separately, prepare the broth by salting to taste.

Step 3. Add the bread, broken into very large pieces, to the sauté.

Step 4. Cook by slowly pouring in the hot broth a little at a time.

Step 5. About halfway through cooking, add the rosemary sprig.

Step 6. The soup is finished cooking when it is smooth and slightly creamy.

Step 7. Add pepper to taste, and if desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.

Serve hot in the winter and warm in the summer.

The CHEf – Annarita Belliardo

I was born and still live at the foot of the Italian Maritime Alps, not far from the French border. I have always been interested in cooking and, over time, my attention has focused on food traditions and the use of wild herbs in cooking. As a teacher of literary courses at various secondary schools, I have had the pleasure of carrying out food education activities, which I consider to be a fundamental part of an educational project. Later on, at an institute for hotel and restaurant operators, I had the opportunity to organise banquets with historical and literary themes. I am currently working with the Atelier Mal’Erba, researching the use of plant ingredients (herbs, berries and flowers) to create a proposal that is sustainable without sacrificing taste.