Description
A comforting Italian chicken soup with tender pastina, a creamy vegetable base, and a bright hint of lemon, perfect for soothing and nourishing.
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 yellow onion, quartered
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3 ribs celery, halved
- 1 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 parmesan rind (optional)
- 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 ¼ cups pastina or other small pasta (orzo, stelline, ditalini)
- 1 lemon, juiced (more if desired)
- Freshly grated parmesan, for serving
- Chopped parsley, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add carrots, onion, garlic, celery, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly browned.
- Add the parmesan rind and broth. Cover and bring to a gentle boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until vegetables are very soft.
- Remove the parmesan rind.
- Using an immersion blender, puree the vegetables until smooth. If using a regular blender, blend in batches and return to the pot.
- Stir in the pastina and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat.
- Add lemon juice, taste, and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with freshly grated parmesan, black pepper, and optional parsley or a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
- For a heartier soup, add shredded chicken or white beans.
- If storing leftovers, cook pastina separately to prevent it from absorbing too much broth.
- Browning the vegetables before simmering adds depth of flavor.
- Using a parmesan rind infuses the broth with umami.
- Add lemon juice at the end of cooking to preserve its brightness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering and Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 274 kcal
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A
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