Description
Pastina Soup is a comforting Italian classic featuring tiny pasta simmered in chicken broth and enriched with tender egg ribbons and Parmesan cheese. This quick and easy soup is perfect for chilly days or when you need a soothing, nourishing meal. With simple ingredients and just 15 minutes of total cooking time, it makes an ideal light lunch or starter.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 6 cups chicken broth (homemade or low-sodium store-bought)
- 3/4 cup pastina (or other tiny pasta like acini di pepe or stelline)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Egg Mixture
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil the Broth and Cook Pastina: In a medium pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pastina and cook according to package instructions, usually 5–7 minutes, until the pasta is tender but still holds its shape. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Incorporate Butter and Reduce Heat: Stir in the tablespoon of unsalted butter to enrich the broth. Then reduce the heat to low to prepare for adding the egg mixture slowly.
- Prepare Egg-Parmesan Mixture: In a small bowl, beat the egg and grated Parmesan cheese together until fully combined. This mixture will create delicate egg ribbons when added to the hot soup.
- Drizzle Egg Mixture into Soup: Slowly drizzle the egg and Parmesan mixture into the hot soup in a thin stream, while stirring gently and continuously. This technique will form thin, silky ribbons of cooked egg throughout the soup.
- Season and Serve: Once the egg is fully cooked and incorporated, season the soup with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm with crusty bread or extra grated Parmesan cheese on the side.
Notes
- For a richer version, stir in a splash of cream or add shredded rotisserie chicken for extra protein.
- This soup is excellent comfort food, especially on cold days or when you’re feeling under the weather.
- Vegetarian option: Substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian-friendly soup.
- Be careful when adding the egg mixture to prevent large clumps by stirring gently and steadily.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
