Description
Comfort meets healing in this Italian penicillin soup that wraps warmth around your senses with rich, nurturing flavors. Packed with tender chicken, aromatic herbs, and nourishing vegetables, each spoonful delivers a comforting embrace that soothes both body and soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) lower-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups (300 grams) chopped sweet onion
- 1.5 cups (225 grams) peeled and coarsely chopped carrots
- 2 celery ribs, coarsely chopped
- 2 cups (280 grams) shredded rotisserie chicken
Aromatic and Flavor Enhancers:
- 6 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
- 4 thyme sprigs
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- 0.75 teaspoon (4 grams) kosher salt
Garnish and Additional Ingredients:
- 4 ounces (115 grams) uncooked pastina pasta
- 1 (2 ounce/57 grams) Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rind
- Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for garnish
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Instructions
- Prepare a robust soup base by combining aromatic vegetables with rich broth, creating a flavorful foundation for this comforting Italian-inspired dish.
- Combine broth, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and salt in a large pot, simmering gently until vegetables soften and release their natural sweetness, approximately 10 minutes.
- Carefully transfer cooked vegetables and a portion of broth to a blender, ensuring a smooth, velvety puree that will enrich the soup’s texture and depth.
- Carefully return the blended vegetable mixture to the pot, integrating it seamlessly with the remaining broth.
- Enhance the soup’s complexity by introducing thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and a Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rind, allowing these ingredients to infuse the liquid with their distinctive aromatics.
- Introduce pasta to the simmering broth, cooking until perfectly tender and al dente, stirring periodically to prevent sticking.
- During the final moments of cooking, gently fold in shredded chicken, allowing it to warm through and absorb the soup’s robust flavors.
- Remove herb sprigs and cheese rind, eliminating any potential tough or woody elements from the final dish.
- Elevate the presentation by garnishing with fresh parsley and a generous sprinkle of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, adding a final layer of flavor and visual appeal.
- Serve immediately, ensuring each bowl captures the soup’s warmth and nurturing qualities.
Notes
- Enhance the soup’s depth by sautéing vegetables in olive oil before adding broth for a richer, more caramelized flavor profile.
- Opt for homemade chicken stock or high-quality store-bought broth to elevate the soup’s overall taste and nutritional value.
- Swap traditional pasta with gluten-free alternatives like quinoa or zucchini noodles for a low-carb or celiac-friendly version of the dish.
- Boost protein content by adding white beans or extra shredded chicken, making the soup more filling and nutritionally balanced.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg