In the quest for a long and healthy life, many seek complex solutions, but one family's secret might be simmering in a simple pot. The Melis family, who once held the Guinness World Record for the highest combined age of nine living siblings, reportedly enjoyed a daily bowl of minestrone soup.
The Record-Holding Family's Daily Ritual
Back in 2012, the Melis clan from Sardinia officially achieved their remarkable record. Their combined age was an astounding 861 years, with the eldest sibling reaching 109 years old. A cornerstone of their daily diet was this hearty Italian vegetable soup, traditionally eaten for lunch with crusty bread and a glass of wine.
This connection between the nutrient-dense dish and their exceptional longevity has captured the attention of health enthusiasts and medical professionals alike. The story transforms minestrone from a simple comfort food into a potential elixir of life, backed by a fascinating real-world example.
Why Doctors Are Praising This Hearty Soup
The health benefits of minestrone are not just folk wisdom. Medical experts, including Dr. Tim Tiutan who discussed it on TikTok, highlight its significant advantages. He and others point to its capacity to lower cholesterol, improve digestive health, aid weight management, and potentially reduce cancer risks.
"This amazing plant-based soup is full of vitamins and minerals, fibre, and more," Dr. Tiutan explained. The soup's power lies in its combination of vegetables, beans, and a tomato-based broth, offering a potent mix of antioxidants, fibre, and essential nutrients in every spoonful.
How to Make Your Own Longevity-Boosting Minestrone
Inspired by the Melis family's tradition, we tested a quintessential one-pot recipe from classically trained chef Jennifer Segal. The beauty of minestrone is its flexibility—it's a wholesome, comforting dish you can easily adapt based on what's in your kitchen.
Preparation took less than 30 minutes, with a cooking time of around 45 minutes. Here is the full method to create this satisfying meal for six.
Ingredients:
- Two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- One onion, chopped
- Two medium celery stalks, diced
- Two medium carrots, diced
- Two garlic cloves, minced
- One chicken stock cube dissolved in 1.4 litres of water
- One tin of chopped tomatoes
- Two tablespoons of tomato paste
- One tin of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- One large potato, peeled and cut into half-inch cubes
- One and a half teaspoons of salt
- Half a teaspoon of sugar
- One teaspoon of mixed herbs
- A quarter teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
- 84g of small pasta (e.g., shells)
- One medium courgette, diced
- 15g of grated Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus extra for serving
Method:
Begin by heating one tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over a medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots, cooking for 6-8 minutes until they soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for a further minute until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken stock, then add the tomatoes, tomato paste, cannellini beans, potatoes, salt, sugar, mixed herbs, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer gently for about 20 minutes.
Next, use a ladle to remove roughly one cup of the soup, ensuring you get a mix of beans, vegetables, and broth. Transfer this to a blender and puree until smooth, then set it aside.
Add the pasta and diced courgette to the main pot, stirring to combine. Increase the heat to return to a boil, then reduce again to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is al dente and the courgette is tender.
For the final step, stir the reserved puree back into the soup. This creates a wonderfully thick and rich texture. Finish by stirring in the grated cheese. Taste and adjust the seasoning with extra salt and pepper if needed.
Serve the soup hot in bowls, each topped with an additional sprinkle of cheese. This scrumptious, comforting, and satisfying winter warmer is more than just a meal—it's a delicious step towards a healthier lifestyle, inspired by some of the longest-living people on the planet.
