How to make same simple meal 'world's oldest family' have eaten every single day

Here is how you can make the simple meal which the world's oldest family swore by.

Longevity is a trend which is currently in vogue right now, from millionaire biohackers such as Bryan Johnson to your typical wellness influencers on social media.

But did you know that spending thousands on supplements and unorthodox tests may actually be a waste of time, when all you need is a hearty bowl of soup?

That is, if you believe the words of the Melis family, a bunch of Sardinian siblings who were once awarded a Guinness World Record for being the 'world's oldest family' back in 2012.

With a combined age of over 800, the three brothers and six sisters became something of a living legend on the Italian island, even featuring in the 2023 Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, which explored five 'blue zones' in the world where life expectancy is significantly higher.

So what's the family's secret?

A major staple of the family diet is minestrone soup (Getty Stock Images)

According to the siblings, the majority of their diet consisted of eating a three-bean minestrone soup with sourdough bread.

And it turns out the soup is pretty easy to make.

How to make the Melis family minestrone soup

Want to recreate the Melis family soup at home? Blue Zones LLC previously shared a video of the family making the cheap and straightforward meal, which includes the following ingredients:

• White onion (approx £0.12 each)
• Courgettes (approx £0.56 each)
• Celery (approx £0.75)
• Tomatoes (approx £1 for 300g or £0.43 for 400g tin)
• Potatoes (approx £0.24 each)
• Salty cheese, such as Parmesan or Pecorino Romano (approx £1.45 to £4)
• Beans (approx £0.49)
• Olive oil (approx £4.85 to £12)
• Water or vegetable broth

Alongside the core ingredients, the recipe can also include Fregula pasta, garlic and herbs such as oregano, parsley and basil.

Most types of beans can be used, with popular options including: pinto beans, white beans, fava beans, cranberry beans and chickpeas.

The family also add a small amount of pig skin into the mix during winter, however, this is completely optional.

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There are several variations on how to cook the recipe; however, most are as follows:

• Chop and saute vegetables in olive oil until soft before adding garlic
• Add in the tomatoes, potatoes, herbs and beans before submerging in water
• Bring to the boil before simmering, depending on the length needed to cook the beans
• Add in salt and pepper, as well as pasta and simmer until pasta is cooked
• Top each serving with cheese and serve with sourdough bread

And there you have it, a soup which managed to sustain a family past the age of 100.

The soup sustained the Melis family throughout their long lives (ETTORE LOI/AFP/Getty Images)

Are the Melis family still alive?

Since entering the Guinness World Records, several members of the family have passed away.

Consolata Melis died in 2015 aged 108, and was her town’s longest-surviving citizen.

Meanhile Claudina died in 2016 aged 103, Maria died at 100, and Antonio died aged 97.