 Acquacotta ( pronounced [ <unk> ] ; Italian for " cooked water " ) is a broth @-@ based hot soup in Italian cuisine that was originally a peasant food . Its preparation and consumption dates back to ancient history , and it originated in the coastal area of named Maremma in southern Tuscany and northern Lazio . The dish was invented in part as a means to make hardened , stale bread edible . In contemporary times , ingredients can vary , and additional ingredients are sometimes used . Variations of the dish include <unk> con funghi and <unk> con <unk> . 
