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Ultimate Italian Penicillin Soup: Healing Chicken Pastina Recipe

Close-up of a comforting bowl of penicillin soup featuring shredded chicken, small pasta pearls, diced carrots, and fresh parsley garnish.
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This Italian Penicillin Soup, also known as Chicken Pastina Soup, is the ultimate comfort food for when you need nourishment or are feeling under the weather. It features a bright, flavorful broth with garlic, lemon, tender chicken, and tiny pasta.

Ingredients

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  • 6 cups high-quality chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup pastina (or other tiny pasta like acini di pepe)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic, oregano, and basil to the pot. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer.
  4. Add the pastina to the simmering broth. Cook according to the pasta package directions, usually about 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
  5. Stir in the shredded cooked chicken and cook for 2 more minutes to heat through.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Season generously with salt and black pepper to your taste.
  7. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with fresh chopped parsley and a sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, if you use it. Serve immediately for a comforting meal.

Notes

  • You can use store-bought rotisserie chicken for quick preparation.
  • For a richer broth, use homemade chicken bone broth.
  • If you do not have pastina, use orzo or small shells, adjusting the cooking time as needed.
  • This soup is excellent for meal prepping; store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/penicillin-soup-italian-comfort-healing-recipe/