Pastina in Brodo (Italian Penicillin)

Ingredients

• 6 cup chicken broth (Preferably low-sodium; use vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.)
• 1 head garlic (Leave the cloves together in the head; trim away any loose outer skin if needed.)
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary (Remove before adding the pasta.)
• 1 cup pastina (Stelline or acini di pepe are suitable choices.)
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (Finely grated, plus more for serving if desired.)
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (For finishing and serving.)
• kosher salt (To taste; the amount depends on the saltiness of the broth and Parmesan.)
• black pepper (Freshly ground, to taste.)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the chicken broth, whole head of garlic, and rosemary sprig in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring the broth to a simmer over medium-high heat.

2. 2

   Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the garlic is completely tender and sweet-smelling, about 30 minutes.

3. 3

   Remove and discard the rosemary sprig. Carefully remove the softened garlic head, squeeze the cloves from their skins into a small bowl, and mash them to a smooth paste.

4. 4

   Return the mashed garlic to the simmering broth and stir well to distribute it throughout the liquid. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.

5. 5

   Add the pastina to the broth. Stir frequently so the tiny pasta does not settle or stick, and simmer until tender according to the package directions, usually about 5 to 8 minutes.

6. 6

   Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan until melted and incorporated into the soup.

7. 7

   Ladle the pastina and broth into four bowls. Finish each serving with extra Parmesan and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, then serve hot.

Notes

The source page is membership-restricted and does not expose the complete ingredient list or method in the provided excerpt. The quantities and detailed method above are an informed reconstruction from the visible description, yield, cook time, and tip. Remove the rosemary before adding the pasta, since continued stirring can release unpleasant woody leaves.

Nutrition per serving

• soup
• main
• Italian
• comfort food
• family-friendly
• one-pot
• pasta
• winter