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Italian Penicillin Soup

Italian Penicillin Soup

Warm, soothing, and nourishing — this Italian Penicillin Soup (also known as Chicken Pastina Soup) is the ultimate comfort food for cold days or when you’re feeling under the weather. Made with tender chicken, vegetables, and tiny pasta like pastina or ditalini, it’s Italy’s healing soup — packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients and homestyle flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 bowl
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 boneless chicken breast or 2 thighs for richer flavor
  • 6 cups chicken broth homemade or low-sodium
  • ½ cup small pasta pastina, ditalini, or orzo
  • 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried Italian herbs basil, oregano, thyme
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • Juice of ½ lemon optional, for freshness
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
  • Optional Add-ins:
  • 1 handful spinach or kale for extra greens
  • ¼ tsp turmeric for anti-inflammatory benefits

Method
 

  1. Sauté the Base:
  2. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
  3. Add Garlic and Chicken:
  4. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add chicken pieces and lightly brown both sides for 2–3 minutes.
  5. Simmer the Broth:
  6. Pour in chicken broth. Add salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25–30 minutes until the chicken is tender.
  7. Shred and Return:
  8. Remove the chicken from the pot, shred it using two forks, and return it to the soup.
  9. Cook the Pasta:
  10. Stir in pastina or ditalini and cook for about 8 minutes until tender.
  11. Finish the Soup:
  12. Add parsley and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  13. Serve Hot:
  14. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and drizzle with a little olive oil if desired.

Notes

  • Use homemade broth for richer flavor and nutrition.
  • Add turmeric or ginger for an extra anti-inflammatory soup boost.
  • For a vegetarian version, swap chicken broth for vegetable stock and skip the chicken.
  • Use pastina or ditalini pasta for authentic Italian texture.
  • Squeeze in a little lemon juice right before serving — it brightens the soup beautifully