Le Virtù Teramane Bowl

Designed by Astrid Luglio and Ester Bianchi, the Scarpetta Collection is inspired by the Italian tradition of ‘scarpetta’ (dipping your bread). The universal gesture is very close to the heart of everyone who has enjoyed a delicious plate of pasta and after indulged in mopping up the tasty sauce left on the plate.

Each of the six porcelain-enameled, metal dishes contains a playful composition of sauce stains, food scans and table gestures. The abstract designs represent six diverse regions in Italy and their unique, traditional recipes, all telling an inviting story about the Italian food culture. 

Le Virtù Teramane is a delicious and hardy dish from the region of Abruzzo closely linked to the changing seasons. Normally consumed on May 1, housewives would use leftover vegetables and legumes from the previous season together with pork meat and aromatic herbs to create a tasty stew. Today the tradition of loving transforming leftovers into a magical delight continues to be shared among families and friends all around Italy.

• Material: Porcelain enamel, aluminum
• Dimensions: Diameter 16cm
• Dishwasher safe
• Not suitable for microwave

Recipe by Frank Fariello

Ingredients: To cook the pig's foot (optional):

• 1 pig's foot
• 1 small onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 stalk of celery
• Salt

• 500g (1 lb) mixed dried beans (see Notes)
• 1-2 cloves of garlic

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
• Parsley, plus other fresh herbs if you like (see Notes), minced
• 125g (4 oz) pancetta (plus pig's skin if using), cut into small cubes
• Salt and pepper
• A few cloves, plus a pinch of nutmeg if you like
• Olive oil

• 2-3 tomatoes, cut into chunks (or more if you like)
• 500g (1 lb) fresh legumes (see Notes)
• 1 kilo (2 lbs) or more fresh vegetables (see Notes), cut into dice
• If not using the pig's foot: Water or meat broth, preferably homemade

• A handful of basil, mint or other fresh herbs, roughly chopped or torn
• Grated pecorino cheese

Directions: 

1. You should start the dish the day before. (Actually, two days before is better, as the soup is better the day after it's made.) Soak the dried beans overnight.
2. If using the pig's foot, simmer it with the aromatics and pinch of salt until it's falling off the bone. Let the pig's foot cool off and place it in the fridge overnight.
3. The next day, take the pig's foot out of the fridge and skim off the considerable excess fat that will have risen to the top. Remove the pig's foot and carefully peel off the skin with a boning knife and cut it into very small cubes and set it aside. Cut off any meat as well and cut that, too, into small pieces and reserve separately.
4. Heat up the pork broth, pour it through a sieve, and set aside.
5. Simmer the dried beans with the garlic until they are about 3/4 of the way done, still a bit crunchy. Drain the beans.
6. Now, cut the fresh vegetables up and set out everything you'll need for the soup.
7. Begin the final cooking by pouring a generous amount of olive oil into the bottom of a pot large enough to hold all the ingredients. Ideally, the pot will be made of terra-cotta, but a large enameled cast iron pot, or simply a stockpot, will do fine. Sauté the flavor base ingredients together until they soften. Add the tomatoes and continue cooking until the tomatoes have melted.
8. Add the parboiled dried legumes and give them a turn with the flavor base so everything is well coated. Now do the same with the fresh legumes and fresh vegetables. Add the degreased pork broth and, if you need it, enough water to cover. (If you're not using the pig's foot, just use water or broth.) Simmer until everything is nice and tender, about 45 minutes to an hour.
9. Towards the end of cooking add the chopped pork meat (if using) and, if you like, a handful of basil, mint and/or other fresh herbs to brighten the dish. If you have time, let the soup rest overnight and reheat the next day.
10. If using pasta, cook it separately until quite al dente, and add it to the pot a few minutes before you are ready to serve.
11. Serve with grated pecorino on the side for those who like it.