Easy Pastina Recipe: The Ultimate Italian Comfort Food
A classic Italian comfort food made with tiny pasta, warm broth, and simple pantry staples. Pastina is quick to prepare, budget-friendly, and easily adapted to fit different diets and tastes. Perfect for kids, adults, and anyone in need of a soothing bowl of pasta.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pastina(tiny star-shaped pasta or similar small pasta)
- 3 cups chicken broth (or water, or vegetable broth)
- 1 tbsp butter (or olive oil for dairy-free)
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 large egg (optional, for extra creaminess)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh herbs (parsley or basil, optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring broth or water to a boil.
- Add pastina and cook according to package directions, usually 5–6 minutes, until tender.
- Drain most of the liquid, leaving just a little for creaminess.
- Stir in butter and Parmesan cheese until melted. For dairy-free, swap butter with olive oil and skip the cheese.
- (Optional)Crack in an egg and stir quickly into the hot pasta until creamy and cooked through
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with fresh herbs if desired and serve warm.
Notes
Notes:
Cost (per serving): Budget-friendly, around $1–2
- For Kids: Try fun shapes like alphabet pasta or tiny stars.
- For Adults: Add shredded chicken, vegetables, or extra herbs to make it heartier.
- Dietary Swaps: Olive oil instead of butter and no cheese makes it dairy-free.
Cost (per serving): Budget-friendly, around $1–2