Pastina Soup (Simple Italian Chicken Soup)
User Reviews
4.8
Pastina Soup (Simple Italian Chicken Soup)
Description
Pastina Soup starts by simmering water with olive oil, sliced celery (with optional leaves), carrots, shallots or onion, and salt to build a light, flavored broth. Pastina, which can be any small pasta such as acini di pepe, orzo, or broken spaghetti pieces, is added later and cooked until tender. The inclusion of vegetable or chicken bouillon is optional but helps enrich the soup's savory notes.
For a traditional finishing touch, an egg can be cracked into the simmering soup and gently swirled with a fork to create delicate cooked ribbons which add richness and texture. After cooking, unwanted large vegetable pieces such as celery stalks can be removed before serving, leaving a smooth broth with tender morsels.
This soup is ideal as a light meal or comfort food, especially suitable for children due to the small pasta shapes and mild flavor. The preparation accommodates variations in pasta and vegetables depending on preference. An additional tip includes using an ice cube in children's bowls to cool the soup safely while entertaining.
Ingredients
- 32 oz water
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 talks celery (see notes)
- 1 large carrot (cut into pieces as desired)
- 2 shallot or 1 medium onion
- ¼ tsp salt (to taste)
- 2 Tbsp pastina (of choice)
- 1 egg (optional)
- 1 tsp vegetable bouillon (or chicken bouillon, optional)
Instructions
- Put the water, oil, bouillon (if using), celery, carrots, shallots or onion and salt into a pot and bring to a boil. If you have celery leaves, you can add those, too.
- Lower the heat so that the soup simmers for about 15 to 20 minutes, then add the pastina. Cook until the pastina is ready then remove any of the ingredients you don't want to serve, for example, stalks of celery and/or celery leaves.
- Break an egg into the pot and swirl with a fork until cooked. Taste for salt and add if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Keep celery stalks whole if you prefer to remove them before serving; chop if you want them in the soup.
- Choose pastina such as acini di pepe, orzo, alphabet pasta, or small broken pasta pieces.
- An egg added at the end creates ribbons that enrich the broth's texture.
- For children, adding an ice cube to their soup can cool it and provide visual interest as it melts.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 129 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 bowl | |
| Calories | 129kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 47mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 329mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 169mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 3165IU | 63% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 33mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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