Description
Homemade pastina soup brings nostalgic comfort from Italian kitchens with simple ingredients and quick preparation. Gentle pasta pearls swim in rich chicken broth, promising warmth and healing for anyone craving a classic family recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 1 brown onion
- 2 carrots
- 2 celery sticks
- 4 garlic cloves
Pasta and Broth:
- 1 cup pastina pasta (stelline shape)
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
Seasonings and Optional Add-ins:
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- 1 parmesan rind (optional)
Garnish (optional):
- Chopped parsley
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Drizzle of olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables by roughly chopping onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into rustic, uneven pieces.
- Pour vegetable broth into a large pot, adding chopped vegetables, bay leaf, and parmesan rind. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cover pot and simmer at medium-high heat for approximately 20 minutes until vegetables release their flavors.
- Test vegetable tenderness with a fork, removing bay leaf and parmesan rind once softened.
- Transfer cooked vegetables to a blender, adding half cup of water, and puree until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Return vegetable puree to the broth, stirring thoroughly and adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Increase heat to boiling, then gently add pastina pasta. Stir frequently to prevent clumping and cook for 5-6 minutes until pasta reaches perfect al dente texture.
- Ladle soup into serving bowls, garnishing with fresh chopped parsley, additional grated parmesan, and a delicate drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
- Customize Veggie Selection Swap out carrots, celery, or onions with seasonal vegetables like zucchini, butternut squash, or leeks for varied flavor profiles and nutrition boosts.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation Replace traditional pastina with gluten-free pasta alternatives like quinoa or rice-based small pasta shapes to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Protein Power-Up Enhance the soup’s nutritional value by adding shredded rotisserie chicken, white beans, or cubed tofu during the final cooking stage for extra protein.
- Creamy Texture Hack Stir in a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk at the end for a richer, more luxurious soup consistency that adds depth and smoothness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg