Description
Traditional Italian Pastina Soup is a cozy, comforting soup made with tiny star pasta in a light tomato broth. Perfect for cold days or when you’re under the weather, this simple soup recipe uses pantry staples and is ready in under 30 minutes. It’s kid-friendly, versatile, and ideal for easy lunches or dinners.
Ingredients
½ cup pastina (tiny star pasta)
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
½ cup crushed tomatoes
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and broth. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Once boiling, stir in the pastina. Lower the heat slightly and simmer uncovered for 6–8 minutes until the pasta is tender.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if using. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
5. Ladle into bowls and serve warm. Add more parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, or a poached egg if desired.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and skip the parmesan or use a dairy-free alternative.
To avoid mushy pasta when reheating, consider cooking pastina separately and adding fresh.
Add cooked shredded chicken or sautéed spinach for a heartier meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 10mg