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Italian Penicillin Soup: The Ultimate Comfort Food for Colds

Close-up of a steaming white bowl filled with yellow broth, shredded chicken, small pasta, and carrots, representing penicillin soup.
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This Italian Penicillin Soup recipe delivers the ultimate comfort when you feel unwell. It is a soothing, quick-to-make pastina soup featuring tender chicken, bright lemon, and nourishing broth, perfect as a healing meal.

Ingredients

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  • 6 cups high-quality chicken broth
  • 1 cup shredded cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup pastina pasta (or other small pasta like orzo)
  • 1 medium carrot, finely diced
  • 1 celery stalk, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced carrot, celery, and onion. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic and dried thyme to the pot. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
  4. Add the pastina pasta to the simmering broth. Cook according to package directions, usually about 6 to 8 minutes, until al dente.
  5. Stir in the shredded cooked chicken. Heat through for about 2 minutes.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.
  7. Taste the soup and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
  8. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley if you wish before serving immediately.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit the shredded chicken, adding extra vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms for substance.
  • If you do not have pastina, small elbow macaroni or ditalini work well in this healing soup recipe.
  • You can prepare the chicken ahead of time by poaching chicken breasts in water or broth and shredding them.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbymia.com/penicillin-soup-italian-comfort-food-recipe/