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Pastina soup

The Italian comfort soup sometimes called Italian penicillin: vegetables simmered in chicken broth, tiny pastina cooked in the broth, Parmesan to finish.

A teal bowl of clear golden broth holding tiny alphabet pasta, small pieces of carrot, and parsley leaves, on a light wooden table.
Illustrative photograph by Роман Нагаевский, Pexels. Pexels License. Original photo and changes.

By Hopa Mountain.

Ingredients

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Let’s make it

  1. Heat a little oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and saute a few minutes until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook another minute, until fragrant.
  2. Pour in the chicken broth and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook about 20 minutes, until the vegetables are very tender. Add the canned chicken if using.
  3. Bring the soup back to a boil. Add the pastina and cook 5 to 10 minutes, or according to the package, stirring occasionally so it does not stick.
  4. Ladle into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan and parsley. A squeeze of lemon adds brightness. Serve immediately.

Hopa Mountain Family Meal Kit (Italian, Bozeman 2025)

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