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Classic Italian Chicken Pastina Soup (The Ultimate ‘Italian Penicillin’)

Close-up of a white bowl filled with amazing pastina soup, featuring small pasta, sliced carrots, chicken, and fresh parsley.
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Make this simple, nourishing Italian Pastina Soup, known for its comforting qualities. It uses small pasta cooked in a savory broth, perfect for quick weeknight meals or when you need soothing comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1.5 cups pastina pasta (or acini di pepe, orzo, or tiny stars)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 small carrot, finely grated or diced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 egg (optional, for richness)
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil or butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add minced garlic and grated carrot. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables soften and smell fragrant.
  2. Pour in the broth and bring the liquid to a gentle boil.
  3. Stir in the pastina pasta. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often to stop the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, until the pasta is tender.
  4. If you are using the egg, beat the egg with the Parmesan cheese in a separate small bowl. Reduce the heat to low. Slowly drizzle the egg mixture into the soup while stirring constantly. This creates soft egg ribbons.
  5. Season the soup with salt and pepper to your taste. Simmer for one more minute.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley.
  7. Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

  • For a richer soup, use chicken broth. For a vegetarian option, use vegetable broth.
  • If you are feeling unwell, skip the bread and sip the soup directly from a mug for maximum comfort.
  • This recipe is a great base for other additions like shredded cooked chicken or small diced zucchini.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/pastina-soup-recipe-easy-comfort-food/