Description
Pastina brings Italian culinary warmth straight to kitchen tables with nostalgic simplicity. Childhood memories mingle with butter-kissed pasta, creating comfort that connects generations through delicious, soul-nourishing moments you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200 g) pastina (tiny pasta, such as stelline or acini di pepe)
- 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 1 egg (optional, for creaminess)
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Fat and Dairy:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Seasoning and Garnish:
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a medium saucepan and pour chicken broth, bringing the liquid to a rolling boil with gentle intensity.
- Carefully sprinkle pastina into the bubbling broth, stirring periodically to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking throughout the pasta.
- Monitor the pastina’s tenderness, allowing it to absorb the savory liquid until reaching a soft, delicate consistency typically within 5-7 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from direct heat and introduce cold butter, letting it melt smoothly into the warm pasta mixture.
- Generously dust grated Parmesan cheese across the surface, folding gently to create a silky, integrated texture.
- Crack a fresh egg into a separate small vessel, whisking thoroughly to create a uniform golden mixture.
- Gradually incorporate the whisked egg into the pastina, stirring continuously to prevent scrambling and achieve a luxurious, creamy foundation.
- Season the preparation with refined sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Transfer the velvety pastina into serving bowls, presenting a warm, comforting Italian classic.
- Optional: Garnish with delicate sprigs of fresh parsley or torn basil leaves to enhance visual appeal and aromatic profile.
Notes
- Broth Boost: Use homemade chicken broth for deeper, richer flavor that elevates the entire dish’s taste profile.
- Texture Trick: Stir constantly while cooking to prevent pastina from sticking and ensure even, creamy consistency.
- Dietary Swap: Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version, maintaining the comforting essence of the recipe.
- Egg Technique: Temper the egg by gradually adding hot pastina to the whisked egg before incorporating to prevent scrambling and ensure smooth integration.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 246
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg