Description
This comforting Pastina Soup features a vegetable-spiked chicken broth enriched with a parmesan rind, tiny pastina pasta, and garnished with fresh parsley and grated parmesan cheese. Perfect for a quick and cozy weeknight meal, it comes together in just 30 minutes using just one pot.
Ingredients
Scale
Broth and Vegetables
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced into large pieces
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into large pieces
- 2 celery ribs, sliced into large pieces
- 1 parmesan rind (about 2-inches long)
- Kosher salt, to taste
Pasta and Garnish
- 1 1/2 cups pastina (or any tiny pasta variety like alphabet, orzo, or acini di pepe)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley leaves, for garnish
- Grated parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Simmer the broth: In a large pot with a lid, combine the chicken broth, sliced onion, carrots, celery, parmesan rind, and a pinch of kosher salt. Turn the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and cover the pot. Let it simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Puree the vegetables: Remove and discard the parmesan rind. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked vegetables to a food processor. Add a couple of ladles of broth from the pot and blend until the vegetables become fully smooth. Scrape the pureed vegetables back into the pot containing the broth.
- Boil the pasta: Increase the heat to high to bring the broth back to a boil. Stir in the pastina pasta and cook until tender, approximately 3 minutes. Remove the pot from heat once the pasta is done.
- Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning by adding more kosher salt if needed. Ladle the soup into serving bowls and garnish each with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese. Serve hot.
Notes
- This soup is best served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit the parmesan rind or use a vegetarian parmesan alternative.
- Pastina cooks quickly, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
- Serve with crusty bread and a crisp fresh salad for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 308 kcal
- Sugar: 5.4 g
- Sodium: 136 mg
- Fat: 3.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57.2 g
- Fiber: 3.7 g
- Protein: 15.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
