Description
Comforting Italian pastina soup brings warmth and nostalgia to your kitchen, embracing childhood memories with its delicate pasta and rich broth. Simple ingredients combine effortlessly, creating a soulful meal you’ll crave during chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
main ingredients:
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) pastina (tiny star-shaped pasta or other small pasta shapes)
vegetables:
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
seasonings and garnish:
- 1 Parmesan rind (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot and warm it over medium heat, drizzling olive oil to create a flavorful base.
- Gently introduce chopped onions, carrots, celery, and minced garlic, sautéing them until they become translucent and release their aromatic essence, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Pour the selected broth into the vegetable mixture, adding the Parmesan rind to infuse depth and richness.
- Elevate the heat to trigger boiling, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and develop complex flavors for 15-20 minutes.
- Carefully introduce pastina into the simmering liquid, stirring periodically to prevent clumping and ensure even cooking.
- Monitor the pasta’s tenderness, typically requiring 6-8 minutes of cooking until it reaches a soft, delicate consistency.
- Extract and discard the Parmesan rind, then calibrate the soup’s flavor profile with strategic salt and pepper seasoning.
- Transfer the steaming soup into serving bowls, creating an elegant presentation by garnishing with freshly chopped parsley, a delicate sprinkle of grated Parmesan, and a refined drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Notes
- Customize the soup base by swapping chicken broth with vegetable or bone broth for different flavor profiles and dietary needs.
- Enhance nutrition by adding shredded rotisserie chicken or diced cooked protein like white beans for extra substance.
- Choose smaller pasta varieties like orzo or stelline if pastina is unavailable, maintaining the soup’s delicate texture and kid-friendly appeal.
- Easily make this recipe vegetarian by using vegetable broth and omitting Parmesan rind, ensuring versatility for various dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg