Description
This comforting Italian Pastina Soup is a delicate and flavorful broth-based soup featuring tender pureed vegetables and tiny pastina pasta. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients like onion, carrots, celery, and Parmesan cheese, it offers a creamy texture without cream and is perfect as a light meal or starter. Garnished with fresh parsley, this classic soup comes together quickly and is ideal for a nourishing weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 yellow or white onion, roughly chopped
- 2 carrots, roughly chopped
- 2 celery sticks, roughly chopped
Broth & Pasta
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 Parmesan rind
- 1 cup pastina pasta (or other small pasta like acini di pepe or stelline)
Finishing & Garnish
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Roughly chop one yellow or white onion, two carrots, and two celery sticks. Precision is not necessary for this step.
- Boil Broth and Vegetables: Add the chopped vegetables to a large pot along with 6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth and one Parmesan rind. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil.
- Simmer Vegetables: Once boiling, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, cover the pot, and cook for 15-18 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Puree Vegetables: Remove the vegetables from the pot using a strainer. Place them into a blender with ½ to 1 cup of the hot broth, or alternatively use an immersion blender directly in another pot. Blend until smooth. Exercise caution when blending hot liquids to avoid splatter.
- Cook Pasta: Pour the pureed vegetable mixture back into the pot and add 1 cup of pastina pasta. Simmer for 7-9 minutes or until the pasta is fully cooked.
- Season Soup: Turn off the heat and stir in ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Garnish and Serve: Serve the soup hot, topped with freshly chopped parsley for a fresh finish.
Notes
- You can use either chicken or vegetable broth depending on dietary preference.
- Substitute pastina with other small pasta shapes like acini di pepe or stelline.
- Be cautious when blending hot liquids to avoid burns; blend in batches if necessary.
- Parmesan rind adds rich umami flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and ensure Parmesan is vegetarian-friendly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
