Cozy Pastina Soup
Cozy up with a bowl of homemade pastina soup—vegetable-loaded, gently simmered, and finished silky and Parmesan-y for the ultimate comfort. Great for weeknights, recovering from a cold, or nostalgic dinners at home.
4
bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup (140 g) pastina or other small pasta like ditalini or orzo
- 1 yellow onion chopped small
- 2 carrots peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 4 cloves garlic smashed or minced
- 6 cups (1.4 L) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 Parmesan rind optional, for extra flavor
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste, season in layers
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving, to taste
- Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling at the end
Equipment
- Large pot
- Blender or Immersion Blender
Instructions
- Simmer the veggies and broth: In a large pot, combine broth, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and Parmesan rind if using. Heat over medium. Add a small pinch of salt and pepper.
- Let it get cozy: Once boiling, lower heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes, until veggies are fork-tender and fragrant.
- Blend it up: Remove Parmesan rind (if used). Scoop the veggies and about half a cup of broth into a blender and purée until smooth. Or use an immersion blender directly in the pot, blending just the veggies and some broth until silky.
- Combine the broth and purée: Stir blended veggies back into the pot with remaining broth. Taste and adjust seasoning as you like (more salt, pepper, or a touch of lemon juice).
- Drop in the pastina: Return to a gentle boil, stir in pastina, and cook 5–6 minutes (or according to package directions). Stir often so it doesn’t stick.
- Serve and garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with chopped parsley, grated Parmesan, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
Pasta will absorb broth as it sits. To thin leftovers, just add more broth/water when reheating. For dairy-free, skip cheese and rind—add nutritional yeast for umami. Add cooked shredded chicken at the end for a protein boost.
Nutrition
Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1.5g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 460mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4800IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 1.2mg