My mother calls pastina "the Italian Penicillin"; no matter how low you're feeling, pastina in broth makes everything better! There's just something about the way my NJ Italian mother puts together a plate of her famous "pasteen" that brings back memories of my childhood.
In fact, she swears by the healing powers of her pastina dish. And now that I have a little one of my own, Nana's world famous pasteen recipe has been the first solid food she's tried and now a regular favorite.
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What is Pastina?
Pastina —sometimes called "pastine" or "pastini"—is just a word for a tiny shaped pasta. Orzo can be considered here, but most often the word is used for star-shaped pasta—"stellini" or stelline pasta. Commonly found in Italian and Turkish soups, pastina's miniscule form factor also makes it a popular gateway pasta for small children just starting on solid food.
The Italian Penicillin
Now that my mother is regularly making this pasta for my 10 month old, the memories of my childhood have come flooding back. Granted, I was usually home sick when that bowl of warm goodness was handed over to me, but it still brings back memories nonetheless of a simpler time. It's the ultimate Italian comfort food which is why my mother regularly refers to it as her Italian Penicillin.
Where to buy Pastina
Pastina is actually not hard to find. It's typically sold at regular grocery stores or even on Amazon. Oddly enough pasta specialty stores or even Whole Foods typically don't stock it. My hunch is because this is a more down to earth pasta and there's nothing too fancy about so it won't command a higher price point. I don't know about you but I'm totally fine with that!
Best Pastina Brands
I am partial to Barilla. Ronzoni used to have a popular brand but they just discontinued it in January 2023.
How to make pastina in broth
And now on to my mom's famous recipe (that our 10 month old LOVES)
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of your favorite pastina
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 pat of butter (this is my mom's speak. It's actually ⅓ to ½ a tablespoon of butter)
- A pinch of salt
- ¼ cup of grated cheese or to taste
Instructions:
- In a small pot, bring the broth to a boil.
- Add the salt, butter, and pastina. Turn down the heat.
- The pastina will cook quickly (approximately 4-5 minutes).
- As soon as it's ready immediately turn off the heat and add the grated cheese. Mix well.
Buon Appetito!
Optional Modifications
- Make it fancy: After the pasta is cooked, crack an egg and drizzle it over the pot while stirring gently.
- Make it vegan: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Leave out the butter and the cheese.
My Favorite Pastina Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- In a small pot, bring the broth to a boil.
- Add the salt.
- Add the pastina.
- Cook the pastina 4-5 minutes..
- Turn off the heat.
- Add the butter and grated cheese. Mix well.
FAQs:
Can I add chicken to my pastina recipe?
Yes, you can add small pieces of chicken. The chicken should be cooked separately before adding to the pastina.
Is Pastina Vegan?
The recipe is very flexible and can be made vegan by omitting the butter and egg and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Feel free to experiment with various butter and egg vegan susbtitutes.
Is pastina being discontinued?
Technically, Pastina has not been discontinued but Ronzoni, one of the more prominent brands, discontinued it's use of pastina in January 2023. Unfortunately their supplier stopped making the product and Ronzoni was unable to successfully obtain a new supplier. If you are really stuck on the Ronzoni pastina, then you can still find some on eBay at an inflated price no doubt.
That being said, there are many other brands that still make pastina such as Barilla, Di Martino, or San Giorgio
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