Description
Italian comfort calls to home cooks with this heartwarming pastina soup, a nostalgic embrace of simple ingredients dancing in savory broth. Childhood memories mingle with warmth, inviting you to savor each spoonful of pure, soulful nourishment.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Broth:
- 1 cup pastina (tiny star-shaped pasta or any small pasta shapes)
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 Parmesan rind (optional, for added depth of flavor)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
- Extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious pot over medium flame, introducing diced onions, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Gently sauté the vegetables for approximately 5-6 minutes until they become translucent and release their aromatic essence.
- Stream chicken or vegetable broth into the vegetable mixture, incorporating the Parmesan rind for enhanced depth. Elevate the liquid to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Allow the ingredients to harmonize and develop rich flavors for 15-20 minutes.
- Introduce pastina into the simmering broth, stirring consistently to prevent clumping. Cook the tiny pasta until it reaches a tender consistency, typically requiring 6-8 minutes of careful attention.
- Carefully extract and discard the Parmesan rind. Taste the soup critically, adjusting seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to create a balanced flavor profile.
- Transfer the steaming soup into serving bowls with a ladle. Embellish each portion with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley, a generous dusting of grated Parmesan cheese, and a delicate drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to elevate the dish’s visual and gustatory appeal.
Notes
- Select small pastina shapes like stelline or orzo for the most authentic and child-friendly texture.
- Use homemade chicken stock for richer, deeper flavor complexity that elevates the entire soup’s taste profile.
- Consider replacing chicken broth with vegetable broth to create a vegetarian-friendly version that’s equally comforting.
- Add beaten egg during final cooking stage for extra protein and traditional Italian “stracciatella” style texture, whisking gently while pouring to create soft egg ribbons throughout the soup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg