Tomato Pastina
Tomato pastina is a classic Italian comfort food that combines tiny star-shaped pasta with a rich, flavorful tomato broth. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for chilly days or whenever you need a cozy meal.
During the winter when things are getting passed around at school and people are feeling under the weather, it is nice to have some cozy comfort soups at the ready for the kids.
When my girls are feeling run down and want something warm and soothing for their throats, they absolutely love this rich and tender tomato pastina soup. It would also be great for when the kids have tender mouths after a braces adjustment!
Tomato pastina is a veggie-heavy homemade version of Spaghetti-o's and a million times more delicious. With fresh carrots and onions and a hearty tomato base, my girls love the star-shaped pasta floating in that broth.
While it has a few more steps than simply opening a can, I think you'll find it is more than worth the extra effort.
BONUS: It makes a much larger serving so you'll have enough to feed the whole family, even on a budget.
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Budget-Friendly: Made with common pantry staples and vegetables, this is an affordable meal for families.
- Quick & Easy: Ready in just 30 minutes, you can make this on a busy weeknight or for a cozy weekend meal.
- Comforting and Kid-Friendly: When my kids are under the weather, this is the meal they crave. It's the perfect comfort food when you're needing something soothing.
Ingredients
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This easy pastina soup is made with simple, wholesome ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- Pastina Pasta: I was able to find this star-shaped pasta right at Target in the pasta aisle. If you can't find it locally, you can buy it online here or use one of my substitutions mentioned below.
- Chicken Stock
- Carrots
- Onion
- Tomato Paste
- Minced Garlic
- Olive Oil
- Dried Thyme
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Kosher Salt and Pepper
Pastina Substitutions
If you can't find the pastina pasta and still want to make this recipe, you could also use:
- Ditalini: This tiny tube shape is similar to a wider Spaghetti-os noodle. You may need a little more cooking liquid if you use this pasta shape instead of the much-smaller pastina.
- Orzo: I think this would be my choice for substitute. It is easily found and I almost always have this rice-shaped pasta in my pantry.
- Acini de Pepe: This is one of my favorite soup noodles. I use it in my ground turkey soup and it would be a great runner up.
- Israeli Couscous: Similar to the acini de pepe but unfortunately this item tends to be a little more expensive for how much you'll need to use in the recipe.
Build the Sauce
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and onion, stirring occasionally, until softened (about 5 minutes).
Stir in the tomato paste and let it cook for about 5 minutes. This step deepens the tomato flavor and gives the soup its signature rich taste.
Stir in the garlic, dried thyme, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken stock, stirring well to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.
Cook the Pastina
Stir in the pastina and let it cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. The pasta should be tender and infused with the flavorful broth.
The pastina will absorb the liquid and make the dish much thicker as it cooks. If you find it has sat too long and absorbed too much liquid, you can always add a splash of chicken broth to loosen things up.
Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Make Ahead Tips
Storage: Leftover pastina soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: The pasta will soak up the broth as it sits. When reheating, add a splash of chicken stock to restore the consistency.
I wouldn't recommend freezing this dish, the texture of the pasta will become overcooked. This is a meal best served the first night but delicious enough we don't mind the leftovers the next day.
Serving Suggestions
I serve this tomato pastina to my kids when they need a super cozy, comfort food dinner or a warm lunch on a chilly weekend. It is delicious enough all by itself but for that extra loving touch I serve it with buttery bread on the side.
It would be delicious with a slice of homemade garlic bread, a soft whole wheat breadstick, my favorite buttery brown and serve dinner rolls or a batch of warm crescent dinner rolls.
More Easy Pasta Soups
Looking for more easy soup recipes? Here are a few of our favorites:
📖 Recipe
Tomato Pastina
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 carrots diced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 quarts chicken stock
- 2 cups pastina pasta see notes
- Grated parmesan cheese for serving, optional
Instructions
- Pour the olive oil into a large soup pot and place the pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped carrots and onion and stir to combine. Cook until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste to the vegetables and stir it in. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes to deepen the tomato flavor. The mixture will become quite fragrant.
- Add the minced garlic, dried thyme, salt and pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken stock and stir to combine the vegetables and broth. Bring the chicken stock to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium low so you can simmer it for 10 minutes.
- Add the pastina to the broth and stir. Cook for an additional 10 minutes or until the pasta has become nice and tender. You will want to stir it very frequently to avoid the pasta sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Serve the pastina with a sprinkle of parmesan over the top as desired.
- Any leftover pasta will continue to absorb the broth as it sits in a refrigerator. To reheat it, you may want to add a bit more chicken stock to restore the proper consistency.
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