You can easily make this with just a few simple ingredients Definitely soup On the table quickly! The perfect comforting weeknight pasta recipe the whole family will love!
What is pastina?
Pastina is a kind of Italian pasta, literally translated as “little pasta”. It is usually smaller than a grain of rice and has many names, including little star (little star), Sichuan peppercorn (little pearl) or certainly (Small pasta). Due to its small size, it is popular with babies and toddlers and is often mixed with cream/milk or broth/stock to create a porridge or soup consistency. It is considered an Italian comfort food and is known to many as the “Italian penicillin.”
You can find pastina under this name in most grocery stores certainly (Barilla is a great one), stelline or acini di pepe. Here are some brands to watch:
Required raw materials
One thing I love about this pastina soup is that it requires some very simple ingredients:
- olive oil – For cooking mirepoix (carrots, celery + onions).
- really – Check out some of the options above!
- carrot – Chop very finely.
- celery – Like the carrots, we want these chopped!
- onion – I like to use yellow onions, but white onions will work too.
- Chicken broth/soup – I used homemade chicken stock, but you can use any chicken stock you like.
- parmesan cheese – This helps give the pasta soup a creamy texture/flavor. If you prefer it to be dairy-free, feel free to omit.
- Lemon juice/lemon zest – Optional but adds depth to the soup
- salt and pepper – If you are concerned about sodium content, feel free to reduce.
How to Make Pasta Soup
Step 1: Cook the vegetables
Heat a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add carrots, celery and onions and cook 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and vegetables are lightly browned.
Step 2: Cook the soup
Add the chicken stock or stock and turn the heat to high. Let the stock/broth boil and then reduce the heat to low. Stir in the pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb the broth.
Step 3: Serve
Stir in Parmesan cheese, lemon zest/juice, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until desired consistency or serve immediately.
Easy exchange and substitution
Use another kind of noodle – I don’t recommend large noodles, but you can easily switch to different types of smaller noodles, such as orzo. My kids love these alphabet noodles with veggies hidden inside!
make it vegetarian – Keep this pasta soup vegetarian by eliminating the Parmesan cheese and using vegetable stock.
Use homemade stock – You can use homemade vegetable broth or even Instant Pot bone broth!
Add protein – You can stir in cooked grilled chicken or cooked sausage for an extra boost of protein.
add vegetables – Feel free to stir in any extra vegetables at the end of cooking. Peas, chopped kale or chard or whatever you like!
FAQ
Sometimes you will find Pastina listed under other names, including estrella, stelline, acini di pepe or star. If you can’t find any of these, please see the online purchase links above. Otherwise, most stores sell rice grains, which are a great substitute.
Most toddlers/children can enjoy this pasta soup with a spoon as it is fairly thick and easier to scoop. For babies, you can feed them with a spoon or strain out the excess liquid from the soup and let them feed it by hand. Yes, it will be messy – but I guarantee they will love it!
Pastina is designed to soak up a lot of broth so your soup has the consistency of a stew. That being said, if you want it to be a little more “soupy”, just stir in more stock/broth. You may need to do this with leftovers as the batter will absorb the liquid from the refrigerator/freezer. In a pinch, water can also work if it’s out of stock.
Storage instructions
One thing I love about this pastina recipe is that it stores really well!
refrigerator – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Warm on the stove top or in the microwave.
refrigerator – Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Remove from the refrigerator and let thaw on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat on stovetop or microwave.
More Easy Soup Recipes:
Easy Pasta Soup
With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll have this easy pasta soup on your table in no time! The perfect comforting weeknight pasta recipe the whole family will love!
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 30 minutes
- yield: 4 number of copies 1x
- category: dinner
- method: chef
- gourmet food: Italian
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 big carrot, Peel and chop
- 1 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 small yellow onions, chopped
- 4 cups Chicken broth/stock
- 1 cup spaghetti spaghetti
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese shreds
- Zest, 1 lemon
- Juice, 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Heat a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the olive oil.
- Add carrots, celery, and onions and cook 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and vegetables are lightly browned.
- Add the chicken stock or stock and turn the heat to high. Let the stock/broth boil and then reduce the heat to low.
- Stir in the pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb the broth.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, lemon zest/juice, salt and pepper.
- Continue cooking until desired consistency or serve immediately.
- Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and in the freezer for up to 3 months. See storage and reheating instructions above.
