Tired of trying to come up with a delicious, healthy, and easy dinner recipe for when time is tight on those weeknights? Look no further than the classic and comforting pastina! With just a few simple ingredients and minuscule prep, you can have a steaming bowl of warm pastina on your table in no time.
What is Pastina?
Pastina is an Italian word that means “little pasta.” It’s typically made from durum wheat semolina, and it can be found in a variety of shapes like stars, ABCs, orzo, and ditalini. Pastina is a popular choice for kids due to its tiny size and fast cooking time. It’s also popular for making soups, adding to savory dishes, or making sweet rice or tapioca pudding recipes.
Ingredients
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup pastina pasta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: fresh or dried parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
Start by bringing a pot of six cups of water to a boil. Add in the pastina pasta and a small pinch of salt. Cook the pasta until it’s fully boiled, typically no more than five to seven minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and strain the pasta water from the pot.
Bring the pot back to low heat and add in the butter and the low-sodium chicken broth. Stir the mixture until the butter is melted. Add in the cooked pastina and mix well.
Turn off the heat and let the pastina sit in the pot for a minute or two. Add in the grated Parmesan cheese and season with the salt and pepper to taste.
Serving
Pastina is best served hot. If you like, you can add a sprinkle of fresh or dried parsley, chives, or another fresh herb to the pastina to garnish before serving. This will add a little extra flavor and color to the dish.
Pastina is great served alone or with a side salad, roasted veggies, or grilled meat. If you have any leftovers, simply store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Tips and Tricks
For more flavor, consider cooking the pastina in chicken broth instead of plain water.
If you’d like an even creamier texture, add half a cup of whole milk to the pot when adding the butter and chicken broth.
If you’re looking to make it a vegetarian dish, simply substitute low-sodium vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Make pastina even faster by using instant or quick-cook varieties.
The Takeaway
Now that you have a simple and easy pastina recipe in your arsenal, you’ll never have to serve up a plain and boring dinner on those busy weeknights. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cook, anybody can whip up a batch of pastina in no time with this simple recipe! Enjoy the creamy and comforting flavors of pastina in this quick and easy dinner staple.
