The coziest pastina soup with vegetables, tiny pasta, chicken broth and parmesan cheese. Italian nonnas call this “Italian penicillin soup,” because not only is this little noodle soup comforting and healing in the best way, but it’s an easy weeknight recipe takes one pot and is on your table in just 30 minutes!
Pastina soup is often called Minestrina, Pastina in Brodo, or, affectionately, “Italian penicillin.” After one spoonful of tiny star-shaped pasta swimming in delicate chicken broth you’ll understand why!
Like Greek Avgolemono soup or Turkish Mercimek Çorbası (lentil soup), pastina soup is a simple pantry dinner used to warm a child’s belly, often to ward off a cold or just create that cozy comfort that only soup can provide.
While pastina is traditionally made with homemade chicken stock or broth, I swap in low sodium store-bought for an easy weeknight version that comes together quickly. And you can use any tiny pasta you have on hand, like acini di pepe or orzo.
Whether you need a soup for cold to get an immunity boost or not, I know you’ll love this nourishing easy soup!
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Pastina Soup
Pastina is meant to be a humble pantry meal. You likely have most everything on hand! Here’s what you need:
- Chicken broth: Use homemade chicken stock or low sodium store-bought chicken broth. That way you can add salt to your liking.
- Fresh Vegetables: Onion, carrot, and celery make the aromatic foundation of the broth. I like the mild sweetness of yellow onion, but you can use white onion or 2-3 shallots in its place.
- Parmesan rind: Spikes the broth with loads of umami flavor. Save your leftover parmesan rinds in the freezer to keep them on-hand. You can also use a large chunk of parmesan, though it’s more expensive than using the rind which would typically end up in your trash can.
- Kosher salt: Enhances the flavor.
- Pasta: I love pastina’s cute star shape for a cozy, nasutalgic quality. But any tiny pasta, like alphabet, orzo, or acini di pepe would also work.
- Parsley: Adds freshness and depth of flavor. You can substitute with dill or basil.
- Parmesan: Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds a perfectly salty umami-rich finish.
How to Make Pastina Soup
Pastina soup is an easy weeknight recipe you can memorize and make on repeat. Here are the four easy steps:
- Simmer the broth. Peel and chop 1 onion and 2 carrots into large pieces. Chop 2 celery ribs into large pieces. Add to a large pot with a lid, along with 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, a parmesan rind, and a pinch of salt. Turn the heat to high to bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cover. Simmer until the vegetables are very tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Puree the vegetables. Discard the parmesan rind, then use a slotted spoon to transfer the vegetables to a food processor. Add a couple ladles of the broth and blend until the vegetables are fully smooth. Scrape the pureed vegetables back into the pot.
- Boil the pasta. Turn the heat to high to bring the broth to a boil. Once boiling, stir in 1 1/2 cups pastina. Cook until the pasta is tender, about 3 minutes or so. Remove the soup from the heat.
- Serve. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning, adding more salt if it tastes flat. Ladle the pastina into serving bowls. Finish each bowl with a sprinkle of parsley and grated parmesan cheese and serve hot.
Getting Ahead and Storage
For this pastina soup recipe you can make the broth ahead of time, cover, and store in your refrigerator for up to 5 days. The tricky part is that the pasta will soak up the broth and get rather floppy. To prevent this, I like to cook my pasta separately then add it to my soup as needed. If you’d like to get ahead:
- Wait to add the pasta. Make the broth and allow to cool fully. Store, covered in your refrigerator for up to 5 days or your freezer for up to 3 months.
- Boil the pasta. When you’re ready to serve, heat the broth over high until. Cook the pasta in the boiling broth.
- If you don’t plan to eat the whole pot. Cook your desired amount of pasta in boiling salted water, then drain and divide among your serving bowls. Top with the hot broth and serve.
Or, if you’re looking for a proper “meal prep” chicken soup you can freeze and easily reheat in one step, try our Soupe Jo (Persian Chicken Barley Soup) or Chicken Stew.
What to Serve with Pastina Soup
Pastina soup is a one pot meal–it’s satisfying enough to go without sides. If you’d like to up your fresh greens, though go for a crisp and effortless lemon parmesan lettuce salad or a simple green salad dressed with balsamic vinaigrette.
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Pastina Soup
Ingredients
- 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
- 1 1/2 cup 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, stir together the broth, onion, carrots, celery, parmesan rind, and a pinch of salt. Turn the heat to high to bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cover. Simmer until the vegetables are very tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Puree the vegetables. Discard the parmesan rind, then use a slotted spoon to transfer the vegetables to a food processor. Add a couple ladles of the broth and blend until the vegetables are fully smooth. Scrape the purreed vegetables back into the pot.
- Boil the pasta. Turn the heat to high to bring the broth to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the pastina. Cook until the pasta is tender, about 3 minutes or so. Remove the soup from the heat.
- Serve. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning, adding more salt if it tastes flat. Ladle the pastina into serving bowls. Finish each bowl with a sprinkle of parsley and grated parmesan cheese and serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Parmesan rind: Save your leftover parmesan rinds in the freezer to keep them on-hand (you can add them to the soup straight from frozen). You can also use a large chunk of parmesan, though it’s more expensive than using the rind which would typically end up in your trash can.
- Getting ahead & storage: The broth will keep, covered in your refrigerator, for up to 5 days, but leftover pasta will soak up the broth and get soggy. If you don’t think you’ll finish the entire pot, cook your desired amount of pasta separately in boiling salted water. Drain, add to your serving bowls, then ladle hot broth over top before finishing with parmesan and parsley.
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Looks amazing! Can this soup be made with vegetable broth instead?
Thank you!
Absolutely!
PS Nod: YES, pasta soaks up EVERY molecule of moisture!!! When I pack up leftovers, I pack the soup/veggie recipes separate, and cook the pasta separately. I serve it with 1/4 c. pasta in the bowl and hot soup over, and I serve leftovers wtih soup in the container, and a snack-sized Ziploc with 1/4 c. past in it!!!Get the soup nice and hot, and add pasta; don’t worry about heating the pasta separately!!! You’re welcome! 🙂
I must own laziness, here… I create the broth with larger hunks of vegetables, but then use an immersion blender to get it all into tiny manageable bits. One could also use a food processor/cuisinart to pulse the veggies prior to beginning the stock… but, again, I’m a bit lazy procedurally, and haven’t found a noticeable outcome UNLESS directions call for sauteeing veggies with spices, etc. (Then, I do NOT short-cut!!) , prior to adding pasta (frequently it’s ditalini or acini de bebe, when I cannot find stars, though sometimes my grocer carries ABCs…Regardless. Small pasta…Even shells…). Makes no difference, heck, you could use rice. It’s the FLAVOR that’s to die for!!! I typically DO double the recipe as I cook for multiple folks. YES, the BASE may be frozen, but then thaw and bring to boiling BEFORE you add pasta. DO NOT freeze with pasta included; it disintegrates and turn to an awful mush texture!!! So, boil base: yes. THEN FREEZE, if you’re freezing. Freeze after adding pasta/rice/starch/grain: NO!!!! lol Ask me how I know this!!! lol
This, with a grilled cheese on hearty bread with a sharp cheddar, havarti, and fabulous smoke ham??? Prepare to swoon!!! If you want to make it a “bisque,” Add 2 t of Baking Powder (stir until it quite foaming), and diced tomatoes, along with a splash of 1/2-1/2 or whole milk. Both are delicious and original doesn’t need to be altered; just for some folks who may be East Coast and prefer a bisque take on a classic!!! Don’t omit the Baking Powder; it neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes, and lets it join the party without separating!! 🙂
Hi! Did you mean baking soda instead of baking powder? I’m curious to try your suggestions but my gut is telling me soda instead of powder. Thanks for the tip!
I can’t believe how much flavor this simple soup has! It is delicious and I make it often.
Absolutely delectable! My husband and I will be making this forever. I’m half Italian, and this pastina is the best! I’d like to share a pic, but don’t see that option.
I’m so sorry we don’t have the option to share pics on the website… I’m sure it was amazing!!
5
So good and picky toddler approved!!!!
I did what other suggested and added garlic and some Italian seasoning. Will definitely make again
Yay! Love it when we win over a picky toddler, lol!
Made this easy soup while the family was recovering from being sick. It was just what we needed to feel better ! Next time I will make the pasta separately , as others said since the pasta soaks up the broth and had to add more broth. Comfort food indeed !
Everyone in my house has been sick the past 2 weeks. I’ve made a double batch of this soup twice! It gets eaten right up! Kids included. It’s perfect for when you’re not feeling well, and just want something simple to eat.
Hope everyone feels better soon!
My daughter was feeling under the weather today and I just needed a different soup in my repertoire of comfort foods. I remember reading about “Italian penicillin” and a web search brought me to your site. This recipe is unbelievably easy and my whole family enjoyed it. They said the soup tastes like love. Definitely will be added to the rotation! Thank you so much for sharing.
I made this tonight and it was great! I agree with the reviewer who added Italian seasoning and garlic – definitely makes a difference and helps to deepen the flavors. A little squeeze of lemon before serving also takes it to the next level. Thanks for the great recipe.
Thanks for the recipe. We had unexpected company over to watch the Edmonton – Dallas hockey game last night and I served this soup. I found that I really needed to add seasoning to it. I added Italian seasoning, bay leaves, quite a bit of salt & pepper, lemon zest and before serving, each bowl got a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before I added the grated parm. It was a hit! Everyone enjoyed it!
I would love to gift this in take away containers. What is best, to cook the pasta in broth and gift altogether in one container. Or cook the pasta serpately and give in two separate containers?
Thank you!
What a sweet idea! I would keep the past separate in this case… otherwise it may get a bit mushy.
This is my go-to recipe for pastina but I do add a few tweaks to it (hence the 4/5 stars).
I highly recommend using 1/4/-1/3 of a butternup pumpkin, 3 whole carrots, and 1 whole garlic clove. I also keep the parmesan rind in the soup.
Instead of taking out the veggies, I blend them in the stock with a handheld stick blender.
Lastly, I add the pasta and let the soup simmer for about 15 minutes (while stirring continuously) to reduce the stock and create a thick consistency.
I made it again! it’s the best !
I ordered the pasta online. Now have enough until 2030…..
Lol! It’s always good to be prepared!
This is the best soup I’ve ever had and my son agrees. It’s incredible. I couldn’t find pastina pasta so I bought elbow macaroni and crushed it into smaller pieces. Make enough for second servings and left overs.
What an amazing review! Thanks so much, Paul!!