Trace this chickpea soup back and you will find it used to be a peasant meal in Roman times. As you might expect, there are lots of variations on this comfort food today and every Italian family has their own way of preparing it. Pasta and chickpeas always feature in the dish but the other flavours can change. Some home cooks might use vegetable broth or different vegetables such as carrots or squash. Throw in some baby spinach a couple of minutes before the end of cooking to add nutrients and extra flavour. Other cooks might omit the bacon and add a splash of olive oil for richness instead. A little good quality virgin olive oil drizzled on top before serving is really good. Instead of bacon you could use pancetta or Italian sausage.