There is something about pastina soup that always feels comforting in a very immediate way. The tiny pasta gives the broth a softness that makes the whole bowl feel warm and familiar, almost like the soup version of comfort food. It is simple, but that simplicity is part of what makes it so appealing.
Pastina soup is also called Italian penicillin soup, similar to our chicken noodle soup; a century-old home remedy for the common cold. It’s made from chicken broth, carrot, celery, onion and noodles. Adding shredded chicken is an option. Pastina soup is made with tiny pasta in star form, stelline, or in tiny balls, called acini di pepe.
Even if you’re not under the weather, and in perfectly health, pastina soup may be a welcome light lunch or gentle appetizer, or even as one of those bowls of comfort when you want something warm and soothing more than anything else.. I have opted for a soup chock-full of vegetables and a home-made chicken broth to ensure ample flavor. Served with some bread and/or a salad and you have created a healthy meal.
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Key Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- Stelline pasta – you can also use acini de pepe or orzo. If you serve this soup to small kids, try this alfabeto pasta.
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrot
- Home-made chicken broth – or store-bought.
- Rind of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- Parsley
Below is a short video to give you an idea how easy it is to make this Pastina Soup
You can adjust this recipe to your liking, by changing the ratio pasta/vegetables and broth or you could add pieces of chicken. It depends on what you prefer.
How to Make Pastina Soup
- Step 1 – Clean and chop the vegetables. Since the pasta is tiny, chop the onion, celery and carrots also in tiny pieces. Similar sizes will look beautiful in the soup and on your spoon.
Step 2 – Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes.
Step 3 – Add the chicken broth, Parmesan rind and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Simmer for 25 minutes, until slightly reduced and the vegetables are cooked.
Step 4 – Discard the Parmesan rind. Add the pastina and parsley and simmer, stirring regularly, until the pasta is tender, 7 minutes (cooking time depends on type of pasta and brand). Add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5 – Serve the soup with extra parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
The pasta continues to absorb the chicken broth after it cooks, resulting in an almost creamy, porridge-like consistency. If you like it thinner, add more broth and make sure you serve it hot!
As you can see in the image above, the soup is rather thin; that’s the way I prefer chicken soup. Other than changing the ratio broth vs pasta/vegetables, puréeing some or all cooked vegetables and stirring them back into the soup is a way to change the thickness as well. The broth will also change from transparent with pieces shining through, to an opaque soup with a beautiful golden color.
Pastina Soup
Pin Recipe Facebook Share by TextIngredients
- 3/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup carrots, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 4 cups chicken broth, or stock
- rind of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, about 2 inches
- 1/2 cup stelline pasta, or acini de pepe, orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, Parmesan rind and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Simmer for 25 minutes, until slightly reduced and the vegetables are cooked.
- Discard the Parmesan rind. Add the pastina and parsley and simmer, stirring regularly, until the pasta is tender, 7 minutes. Add salt & pepper to taste. (NOTE 1)
- Serve the soup in soup plates or bowls. Serve with extra parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Notes
- Adjust cooking time of the pasta if necessary, depending on type and brand.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.