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Classic Italian Penicillin Soup with Chicken and Pastina

Close-up of a white bowl filled with steaming penicillin soup, featuring shredded chicken, sliced carrots, and fresh parsley garnish.
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Make this comforting Italian-style chicken soup, often called Penicillin Soup, when you need a nourishing meal. It features tender chicken, vegetables, and small pastina pasta in a bright, herbaceous broth.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup pastina pasta (or other small pasta like orzo)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth. Add the dried oregano and thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes to allow the vegetables to soften further.
  6. Stir in the shredded chicken and the pastina pasta. Cook according to the pasta package directions, usually about 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
  7. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh parsley and lemon juice.
  8. Season the soup with salt and pepper to your preference.
  9. Serve hot.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, use homemade chicken broth instead of store-bought.
  • If you do not have cooked chicken, you can poach two chicken breasts directly in the broth until cooked through, then shred them before adding them back to the soup.
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flakes when sautéing the vegetables for a slight warmth.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonsprout.com/penicillin-soup-classic-italian-chicken-pastina-recipe/