Description
This comforting Italian Pastina Soup is a quick and easy dish featuring tiny star-shaped pasta simmered in a flavorful chicken broth with sautéed vegetables. Enriched with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, it’s perfect for a light meal or a cozy starter.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 cup pastina or tiny pasta (such as star-shaped, acini di pepe, or orzo)
- 1/2 cup finely diced carrots
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Pasta
Vegetables & Aromatics
Finishing Ingredients
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add finely diced carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Add Broth: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Use a spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot to add flavor.
- Cook Pasta: Stir in the pastina or tiny pasta. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the pasta is tender but not mushy.
- Season and Simmer: Season the soup with salt and black pepper according to your taste. Let it simmer for an additional 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley for garnish. Serve immediately and enjoy the comforting warmth.
Notes
- Pastina can be substituted with other tiny pasta shapes such as orzo or acini di pepe.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if you want to control the salt content.
- Vegetarian option: Substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit Parmesan or use a vegetarian cheese alternative.
- For a creamier texture, stir in a splash of cream or milk at the end of cooking.
- Best served fresh, but leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days; reheat gently to avoid overcooking the pasta.
