This traditional Istrian stew-like soup is prepared with kidney beans, potatoes, and sweet corn, locally named bobići. Maneštra od bobići is cooked with the addition of dried pork meat, and for extra flavor, when the beans and corn are almost fully cooked, the dish is finished with the so-called pešt, a special kind of mash made with bacon fat, garlic, and parsley.

Apart from the amazing flavor and aroma, this finishing touch also adds a nice thickness to the soup, making it a meal in itself, best enjoyed with some sourdough country-style bread.