While there are many variations, its most common ingredients are cannellini beans, potatoes, and kale.

[1] According to the older generation, minestra di pane (zuppa toscana's ancestor) was originally created as a way to use up leftover stale bread.

For the poor, it was a waste to throw this bread away; instead they made a watery soup out of it.

[2] The American restaurant chain Olive Garden offers a very different soup under the name zuppa toscana.

Rather than being based on beans, it is made with Italian sausage, red pepper, onion, bacon, garlic, chicken broth, cream, potatoes, and kale.