Once considered daily food for the poor, maneštra has become a regional specialty. At one time, maneštra was the only dish available, and the only side dish was another plate of maneštra. Starving and exhausted from a hard day’s work in the fields, young people would put so much bread into their soup that the spoon could stand upright.

Since maneštra is extremely quick to digest, field laborers claimed that after eating a bowl they were hungry right away. During the war, thrifty and inventive Istrian mothers made maneštras from nettles, herbs and even weeds.

A deceivingly plain and simple dish, maneštra is indeed a creative and healthful food.

Only now when vegetables are recognized for their high nutritional value is maneštra getting the credit it deserves - and the simple dish we have been a little ashamed of has found its place on the menus of many fine restaurants.