Oh, This Is Good.
Like, slurp that savory broth and go back for a third bowl kind of good.
My daughter got sick last week, which means that our whole family got sick last week. And when I get sick, I lose two things: 1) my appetite, and 2) my interest in cooking.
This pastina soup truly SAVED us last week. It is:
- Incredibly easy to make.
- So, so savory and flavorful.
- Light (like, practically drinkable) but nutrient-rich.
- Warm, cozy, and healing.
- Generous – like, every time I make it, I end up freezing half of the broth for our next sick day, or to share with someone when they might need it.
I can’t say enough about how much I loved this last week. I sat down at the table with a steamy bowl with extra parm on top, and found myself repeatedly going back for “just one more scoop” of the broth over those tiny stars, even though I swore I hadn’t been feeling hungry just a moment earlier.
My girls were pretty excited about eating tiny star pasta with olive oil and Parmesan, while Bjork and I ladled the luscious broth over our bowls and finally tucked into some nurturing food for the first time in several days.
Pastina refers to the tiny star-shaped pasta, which I found at Target, and the nickname Italian Penicillin refers to the healing nature of the savory broth – almost like a chicken noodle soup, but simpler. (And if I’m being honest, I prefer this to chicken noodle.)
I hope you are healthy and well, physically and emotionally. But if you’re not, this is a comfort meal that has been serving our family so well lately!
Source Notes: “Italian penicillin” is a nickname for pastina soup — small pasta in broth. It is playfully compared to medicine because of its healing vibe, being that it is a warm, nostalgic, nourishing comfort food. It originated with generations of Italian grandmothers and has moved into the spotlight after becoming a popular trend on TikTok over the last few years.
How To Make Pastina (In Photos)
1. Chop and Sauté the Veggies.
Keep them real chunky, and give them a quick sauté with olive oil before adding all the liquid, just to get things extra fragrant.
2. Simmer with the Liquid.
Use water and Better Than Bouillon broth base.
3. Remove Cooked Veggies.
Transfer to a bowl to cool down for a moment.
4. Blend Veggies.
Blend the cooked vegetables, then add them right back to the broth pot.
5. This Broth!
Look how vibrant and gorgeous.
6. Ladle over Pastina!
Ladle the broth over the pastina and top with Parmesan. YUM.
Recipe
Description: This soup has become a go-to recipe when the family is sick. The broth is amazing — simple, light, flavorful, and nourishing. Absolute comfort food.
