Description
A cozy Italian Penicillin Soup made with blended vegetables, pastina, and bright lemon. The perfect comfort food for busy days or when you need a nourishing bowl of warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 yellow onion, quartered
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3 ribs celery, halved
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- Parmesan rind (optional)
- 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 1/4 cups pastina or small pasta
- Juice of 1 lemon plus more as desired
- Freshly grated Parmesan for serving
- Extra black pepper for serving
- Drizzle of olive oil (optional)
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and add carrots, onion, garlic, celery, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until slightly browned.
- Add parmesan rind and broth. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until vegetables are very soft.
- Remove parmesan rind and blend the vegetables using an immersion blender until completely smooth. Alternatively, blend in a heat-safe blender and return to the pot.
- Bring soup back to a simmer and add pastina. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off heat and stir in fresh lemon juice. Adjust seasoning and add extra broth if desired for a thinner consistency.
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan, black pepper, olive oil, and parsley before serving.
Notes
- For storing leftovers, cook the pastina separately and add to individual bowls before serving to prevent it from absorbing too much broth.
- Add lemon juice at the end of cooking to keep the flavor bright and fresh.
- You can use vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.
- Adjust the thickness by adding more broth if the soup becomes too thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 274
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 525mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 5mg