Italian Pastina Soup

Name: Italian Pastina Soup (Simple Vegetable Soup in 25 Minutes)
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 1 cup pastina pasta (I’ve used stelline pastina shape); 1 brown onion; 2 carrots; 2 celery sticks; 4 garlic cloves; 6 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth) - I've used low-sodium; Salt and black pepper to taste; *Optional - 1 bay leaf and 1 parmesan rind; Garnish (optional) - chopped parsley, grated parmesan cheese, drizzle of olive oil

BY Ayeh Manfre · UPDATED: Jan 31, 25 · PUBLISHED: Jan 10, 24 · 105 Comments

JUMP TO RECIPE

This Italian Pastina Soup has the power to soothe your soul from the inside out! It’s crazy easy to make with a simple broth that feels like a warm hug in a bowl, and all ready in 25 minutes!

Pastina soup in a bowl with garnish of parsley, parmesan and olive oil

Nothing screams comfort food more than a bowl of Pastina Soup, also known in Italian as pastina in brodo. It’s one of my favorite lazy soups to make when you need a quick cozy winter dinner or even if you are feeling sick and can't be in the kitchen cooking for long. It's sure to make you feel instantly better and always hits the spot!

The best part is you only need a handful of basic ingredients and 25 minutes to make this delicious soup! Its healthy and nutritious and also kid friendly with hidden veggies. It's also vegan too so everyone can enjoy this classic Italian staple.

If you want an even simpler variation of pastina, you must also try my cheesy pastina recipe which is another favorite of mine.

The actual name Pastina translates in Italian to “little pasta”. The pastina are literally tiny pieces of pasta which come in so many different shapes and sizes. Living in Italy, I am spoiled for choice when it comes to pastina as the options are endless in the supermarket aisles.

I was first introduced to pastina from my Italian mother in law a few years ago. She made me a bowl when I was sick one day, and since then I haven't let go of it! I call it magic soup as I felt better straight away, which explains why it has a nickname of Italian penicillin. Its a longstanding Italian tradition that has been healing families for generations. All kids grow up eating this Italian soup making it a staple in all homes including mine 🙂

More delicious soups to try are my vegetable noodle soup and pasta e fagioli.

Table of Contents

Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
How to make Pastina Soup
Tips and Tricks
Storage, Reheating and Freezing
FAQ's
More Cozy Soups
More Italian Recipes
Recipe
Comments

Close up of a spoon to show little stelline pasta shapes

Why you'll love this recipe

Quick and easy: This easy pastina soup recipe comes together in less than 25 minutes and made with a handful of basic ingredients
Healthy and nutritious: Its full of nutrients from the vegetables, broth and pastina pasta making this soup a wholesome dish
Versatile: You can customize this soup to your liking by keeping it plant based, or adding your favorite protein such as chicken. You can also experiment and add different veggies
Kid-friendly: The tiny cute pasta shapes make it a joy for kids, and the vegetables are hidden since they are blended into the broth

Pastina soup with garnish of parsley, parmesan cheese and olive oil

Ingredients and Substitutions

Pastina pasta is of course the main star of this soup. The tiny pasta shapes comes in so many different shapes and sizes. I've used stelline today which are shaped in little stars, but other popular shapes are acini di pepe, alphabet pasta and orzo (risoni). Feel free to use gluten free pasta if needed
Brown onion adds a depth to the broth. You can also use white onion or shallots which are milder and a little sweeter
Carrots add sweetness and earthiness along with a gorgeous color and warmth to the broth
Celery is the third component to the sofrito ingredients, which brings a freshness to balance the flavors
Garlic because why not right! Not only does it make it taste better, but it will also help you heal any sickness from the inside
Bay leaf infuses the broth with a lovely aromatic essence. Also Nonna always taught us to add bay leafs to our soups and she is 100% always right!
Vegetable broth / vegetable stock, is my preferred broth to use as the base of the soup. Always use an organic broth with minimal ingredients and low salt for more nutrition. You can also use chicken stock if you are not plant based or vegan. This will give it a chicken soup flavor and profile
Optional garnish, I love garnishing my pastina soup with a sprinkle of freshly grated parmigiano reggiano aka parmesan cheese for a little saltiness and umami flavor, but you can totally leave this out or use a plant based alternative to keep it fully vegan. Fresh herbs such as chopped parsley freshens it up, and don't skip a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil which brings it all together!

How to make Pastina Soup

Chop onion, carrots, celery and garlic cloves (a rough chop will do the job)
In a large pot, pour vegetable broth, add chopped ingredients, bay leaf and parmesan rind. Season, then place the lid on to simmer for 20 minutes over medium-high heat
With a fork, check to see if the vegetables are cooked. Remove the bay leaf and rind, then strain out the vegetables with a colander
Blend the vegetables with ½ cup of water until smooth
Pour blended veggies into the pot and stir through, taste and season as needed
Bring back to a boil, then add the pastina pasta
Pastina usually takes about 5-6 minutes to cook. Stir the pastina every minute or so, to prevent sticking
It’s ready! Serve with garnish of chopped parsley, parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil and enjoy!

Ladle mixing pastina soup in a large pot

Tips and Tricks

Pastina has a tendency to stick together, so ensure you stir the soup every minute or so to prevent any sticking, especially on the bottom of the pot
Don't overcook the pastina as it can become mushy very quickly. It usually only takes 5-7 minutes to cook, so check the package instructions and keep your eye on it
If you prefer a chunky soup, skip the blending step and enjoy your vegetables in small pieces
I prefer to only add enough pastina to eat on the day as it can overcook when being reheated. If you’re wishing to make more soup for meal prep, you can then just cook the pastina pasta on the day you’re eating it
Add a parmesan rind for extra flavor to the broth as it's being simmered. You then remove and discard it before blending the vegetables. I always keep the parmesan rinds in the fridge to add to soups and other dishes like my bolognese sauce and sugo recipe

Storage, Reheating and Freezing

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days
Simply reheat the soup in a saucepan over medium heat with a splash of water, until it is heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave
You can freeze pastina soup for up to 2-3 months. I would suggest to only freeze the soup and cook the pasta when you are ready to eat it. Allow the soup to cool completely then store in an airtight freezer-safe container
When ready, allow the soup to thaw in the fridge overnight or place the container in a bowl of hot water in the sink. Bring the soup to a boil in a pot and cook the pastina pasta and enjoy!

FAQ's

What kind of pasta is pastina?

Pastina translates in Italian to “little pasta”. They are very tiny pasta pieces that range in many different shapes and sizes, making it perfect for soup

Is pastina soup healthy?

Yes it sure is! My recipe is made with vegetable broth, blended vegetables and small pasta making it healthy, hearty and wholesome

Can I make pastina soup ahead of time?

Absolutely! Its best to make the broth then cook the pastina when you are ready to eat it

Pastina soup in a bowl with a spoon to show the texture of the pastina shape

More Cozy Soups

More Italian Recipes

I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your Italian Pastina Soup photo on Instagram so I can share the love!

Recipe