Description
This classic Italian Pastina Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tiny pasta stars simmered in a savory chicken broth with aromatic vegetables and herbs. Perfect for a light meal or a soothing remedy on chilly days, this soup is garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a delightful finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pastina
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat to prepare for sautéing the vegetables.
- Sauté vegetables: Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook until softened, which takes about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Bring broth to boil: Pour in the chicken broth and increase the heat to bring it to a rolling boil.
- Add pastina and herbs: Stir in the pastina pasta along with dried basil and dried oregano, mixing well to combine the flavors.
- Simmer soup: Reduce heat to low and let the soup simmer gently for about 10 minutes or until the pastina is tender but not mushy.
- Season: Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed to enhance the flavor.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish generously with grated Parmesan cheese for a rich and savory finish.
- Enjoy: Serve hot and enjoy your comforting Italian Pastina Soup!
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Pastina cooks quickly, so keep an eye on the texture to avoid overcooking.
- You can add fresh herbs like parsley or basil as an alternative garnish.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- To increase protein, consider adding shredded cooked chicken or beans.
