Jota (Friulian Bean and Sauerkraut Soup)
A thick, smoky, gently sour winter soup of borlotti beans, potato and sauerkraut. Trieste and Friuli in one bowl.
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.77 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the bacon for 5 minutes until golden, then add the onion and cook for 6 minutes until soft.
11 min - 2
Stir in the garlic and caraway seeds for 1 minute.
- 3
Add the sauerkraut, potatoes, bay leaves and water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 25 minutes until the potato is soft.
25 min - 4
Mash half of the borlotti beans with a fork and stir all the beans into the pot. Simmer for 20 minutes more, until thick and savoury.
20 min - 5
Taste and season with black pepper and a little salt if needed. Remove the bay leaves.
- 6
Ladle into warm bowls and scatter with parsley. It tastes even better the next day.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.