Pastina aka Italian Penicillin

A Quick and Easy Pastina is truly one of the world's best comfort foods. I will forever keep this recipe in my back pocket for when someone in my family is under the weather or for when we just need something comforting. Pastina is simple and flavorful and comes together in no time. Make it just once and it will be on permanent request!

Pastina is also lovingly called Italian Penicillin, and for good reason. It's like an Italian take on chicken noodle soup. It's good for the soul and the belly.

Let's get started!

Jump to:

• why make pastina?
• ingredients
• how to make pastina
• recipe frequently asked questions
• recipe tips, tricks, and variations
• Recipe
• other easy soup recipes

why make pastina?

Pastina, oh how I love thee. For many, many reasons. First and foremost, its a one pot meal. We are all busy with life and kids and all the things. Who needs another pot to wash? Not this girl, I can assure you.

Another fantastic reason to love this quick and easy pastina? It taste LESS THAN 30 MINUTES to make. So if you have people that are under the weather or you just want pure comfort food bliss, you can have it in no time.

And, finally, pastina is the ultimate comfort food. I will forever keep all the ingredients needed to make this on hand. If you feel less than, pastina. Don't know what to make for picky kids? Pastina. And if you just want to feel warm and cozy and taste something that will be forever wonderful, pastina. Quick and Easy Pastina is the answer.

ingredients

The ingredients needed for this wonderfully comforting recipe are basic. There's nothing fancy here. You'll need

Pastina. It's a wonderfully tiny little pasta, but you can use orzo if you can't find it.

Butter, Onion, Carrot, Celery, Garlic. These are my must-haves for base of any comfort food. The smell of these cooking with butter are my favorite thing ever

Chicken Bone Broth and Turmeric. The importance of using a good quality chicken broth (or brodo which is Italian for broth) cannot be understated. Especially, if you're making this pastina recipe for someone under the weather, use the best you can find. Or, even better, make it yourself.

Throw the turmeric in for the color and anti-inflammatory properties, but you do not have to. Again, food is medicine and turmeric is a super duper food.

Parmesan gives the dish its lovely salty, nutty flavor we all love and the lemon brings out all of the wonderful flavors. And, it has vitamin C. It give the penicillin part of the pastina more ooomph!

I add egg for the additional silkiness and extra protein. Fresh parsley goes in for flavor and it's chockfull of full body beneficial vitamins and minerals!

Pastina

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how to make pastina

My quick and easy pastina is so simple and so quick, that there is little to explain so hold on to your knickers. To begin, I sauté onion, carrot, garlic, and celery in a little bit of butter until they begin to soften. I am forever trying to get any extra vegetables into my kids as I can. You can skip this part if you would like.

Once the veggies begin to soften, I add the bone broth, turmeric, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper. The turmeric is for its anti-inflammatory properties and fresh ground pepper lets your body absorb it more readily. Continue to cook the broth until it starts to simmer. Add the pastina (or orzo) and cook until just al dente.

Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese and extra butter.

For extra protein and creaminess, I like to add an egg. I like to whisk the egg thoroughly before I add it. Then, slowly stir it in while continuously stirring the pastina at the same time. Add a little fresh parsley (it's full of vitamins and minerals) and a squeeze of lemon and enjoy!

recipe frequently asked questions

recipe tips, tricks, and variations

• Store any leftover pastina in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• To reheat, you can microwave a portion in a bowl on low until warm. You can also do this on the stovetop, again on low heat. Add broth to loosen it up if necessary.
• I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
• Add some rotisserie chicken for extra protein.
• Use any small pasta you like.
• Use the best chicken broth/bone broth you can find. This is a very simple recipe, and the quality of the broth will make a difference.
• Don't skip the lemon. It truly brings the flavors together and adds a little hit of vitamin c.

If you guys make this Quick and Easy Pastina Recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!

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Thank you!

I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Quick and Easy Pastina recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or review. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Happy Cooking!

-Rufus

Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links. 

Rufus for Real is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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