Classic Italian Pastina Soup

This comforting pastina soup with chicken, Italian pasta, and tender vegetables is perfect for chilly days or when you're feeling under the weather.

Prep 00:20
Cook 01:35
Total 01:55
Yield 8

Ingredients

  • 1 3-4 lb. whole chicken, neck and insides removed
  • 10-12 cups cold water
  • 3 stalks celery, divided
  • 2 medium white or yellow onions, peeled, divided
  • 3 large carrots, peeled, divided
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more to taste, divided
  • 2 teaspoons pepper, divided
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1          tablespoon reduced sodium chicken base, such as Better than Bouillon
  • 1 cup pastina or other tiny pasta, such as stars
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley, or to taste (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan Cheese, or to taste (optional)

Instructions

  1. 1
    Place chicken in a large pot and pour water over to cover. 
  2. 2
    Roughly chop 2 ribs of celery, 1 ½ onions, and 2 carrots; add to pot with chicken. Season with 2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and bring pot to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the chicken to simmer 1 hour, covered. 
  3. 3
    Remove chicken from the pot and allow to cool before removing and shredding the meat. Strain the stock and discard the solids. Reserve liquid and add water if necessary to measure 12 cups of liquid.  Wipe pot clean.
  4. 4
    Finely chop remaining celery, onion and carrot. Place pot over medium-high heat and add oil. Add chopped vegetables, remaining salt, pepper and garlic and cook frequently until vegetables are tender and onion is translucent (the veggies should not be browned). Add reserved stock and chicken base and stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil and reduce it to simmer.  Allow soup to simmer 10 minutes.
  5. 5
    Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally 15 minutes or until pasta is tender. Reduce heat to low and add chicken and season if desired. Cook 5 additional minutes.  Stir in chopped parsley and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
Category
Soups
Method
Slow Cooking
Cuisine
Italian
Calories
486 kcal
Protein
48.0 g
Fat
27.0 g
Carbs
10.0 g

Recipe Attribution

Allrecipes

Photo by Dotdash Meredith Food Studios