St. Joseph’s Soup (Virgineddi)

Minestra di San Giuseppe, known in the Agrigento area also as "virgineddi", is a rich and fragrant soup in which mixed legumes, seasonal vegetables, and small handmade pasta come together in a warm, comforting blend. Its color is golden and rustic, dotted with chickpeas, fava beans, and lentils, while the aroma of wild fennel and extra virgin olive oil evokes the Sicilian countryside. The texture is thick yet soft, with each spoonful alternating between creamy broth and small bites of pasta. It is traditionally served as a festive first course, shared from large pots during the banquets of March 19.