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Classic Italian Chicken and Pastina Soup (The Ultimate ‘Italian Penicillin’ Recipe)

Close-up of a steaming bowl of italian penicillin soup featuring shredded chicken, bright orange carrots, small pasta, and fresh parsley.
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This comforting Italian soup, often called ‘Italian Penicillin,’ uses tender chicken, bright lemon, and tiny pastina pasta in a flavorful broth. It is simple to make and perfect for when you need a warm, soothing meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup pastina pasta (or small soup pasta)
  • 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

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced carrots and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth. Add the oregano and basil. Bring the broth to a simmer.
  4. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces to the simmering broth. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  5. Stir in the pastina pasta. Cook according to package directions, usually 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
  7. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, you can use leftover cooked chicken and add it in the last 5 minutes of simmering.
  • If you are looking for alternatives to meal delivery companies, this soup is a quick weeknight dinner solution.
  • To make this recipe vegetarian, substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit the chicken, perhaps adding white beans for substance.
  • This recipe is simple enough that you do not need a sous-vide precision cooker for perfect results.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/italian-penicillin-soup-recipe/