Description
Comforting Italian pastina brings nostalgia and warmth to simple homemade meals, offering a delightful childhood memory in each spoonful. Pasta lovers will savor this classic Italian dish that serves as a perfect quick lunch or soothing dinner companion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup pastina pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 large egg
Optional Add-ins:
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch dried parsley
Instructions
- Pour chicken broth into a medium saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Add pastina pasta to the boiling broth, stirring continuously to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta reaches tender consistency.
- Whisk egg in a separate small bowl until smooth and well-combined.
- Remove saucepan from heat and slowly drizzle whisked egg into the hot pasta, stirring rapidly to create a creamy texture without scrambling.
- Incorporate butter, stirring until completely melted and integrated into the pasta.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and sprinkle dried parsley throughout the mixture.
- Gently fold in grated parmesan cheese, allowing it to melt and create a rich, velvety finish.
- Let the pastina rest for 1-2 minutes to allow flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken.
- Transfer to serving bowls, ensuring an even distribution of creamy pasta and seasonings.
Notes
- Select small, star-shaped pastina pasta for authentic texture and traditional Italian comfort food experience.
- Continuous stirring prevents pasta from clumping and ensures uniform cooking throughout the saucepan.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and enhance delicate pasta flavor without overwhelming seasoning.
- Temper egg carefully by slowly drizzling into hot pasta while stirring rapidly to create silky, smooth consistency without scrambling.
- Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth for vegetarian version, maintaining identical cooking technique and creamy result.
- Experiment with additional cheese variations like pecorino romano or aged asiago for unique flavor profiles.
- Add sautéed garlic or fresh herbs like basil for enhanced aromatic depth and complexity to classic recipe.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 660mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 70mg