Italian Pastina Soup Recipe (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Vegetables
01 -
Yellow or white onion (1, roughly chopped)
02 -
Carrots (2, roughly chopped)
03 -
Celery sticks (2, roughly chopped)
04 -
Fresh parsley (2 tablespoons, chopped, optional for garnish)
→ Broth & Pasta
05 -
Chicken or vegetable broth (6 cups)
06 -
Pastina pasta (1 cup, or other small pasta like acini di pepe or stelline)
→ Cheese & Seasonings
07 -
Parmesan rind (1)
08 -
Grated Parmesan cheese (½ cup)
09 -
Salt and pepper to taste
# Instructions:
01 -
Roughly chop onion, carrots, and celery
02 -
Combine vegetables with broth and Parmesan rind in a large pot. Bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20-30 minutes until tender
03 -
Remove vegetables and blend with ½-1 cup broth until smooth, being careful with hot liquid
04 -
Return pureed vegetables to pot, add pastina, and simmer 7-9 minutes until pasta is cooked
05 -
Turn off heat, stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to taste
06 -
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired
# Notes:
01 -
Known as 'Italian penicillin' for its comforting properties
02 -
For best results with leftovers, cook and store pasta separately from broth
03 -
Can be customized with red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, or garlic powder
04 -
Can be made heartier by adding rotisserie chicken, Italian sausage, or soft-boiled egg