Veggie Loaded Pastina
Recipe by Fran Allen
Ingredients
16
Time
40m
Serves
4
This is the perfect, easy, cozy meal to add extra veggies and nutrients when you aren’t feeling your best. Pastina, known as Italian penicillin is a teeny tiny pasta shape that is gently simmered in broth. With this recipe I've decided to add extra nutrients by gently simmering veggies until tender, blending those up and adding them back to our broth with a few herbs for extra immune support. If you are craving a warming, cozy meal, look no further than Pastina!
Dinner
Lunch
Kid-Friendly
Ingredients
750ml
Chicken Broth
1Tbsp
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
2med
Carrots
1stalk
Celery
1med
Onion
1
Zucchini
1heaping cup
Cauliflower
6
Garlic Cloves
1tsp
Turmeric
1tsp
Fresh Thyme
1
Bay Leaf
1cup
Pastina
1Tbsp
Unsalted Butter
1/2cup
Parmesan Cheese
1tsp
Black Pepper
2-4tsp
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
1
In a heavy bottom pot on medium heat, add your olive oil, onion, celery, carrots, zucchini, cauliflower and garlic. Saute until the vegetables are just beginning to soften (about 5 minutes).
2
To the vegetables, add the stock, turmeric, thyme and bay leaf. Leave the heat on medium and allow the vegetables to simmer in the broth covered for about 25 minutes or until the vegetables are fully cooked and tender.
3
Once tender, remove the vegetables from the pot and add to a blender with about a cup of broth, blend together until smooth and add back to the pot with the remaining broth. Stir to combine and add the pasta and stir until the pasta is al dente or just cooked.
4
Finish the pastina by folding in the parmesan cheese and butter to the pot. Serve right away with extra parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper and nice olive oil to garnish.
5
Notes: To make this dish gluten-free, use a gluten free pastina option! Feel free to add extra vegetables to this dish but be mindful that they may alter the colour and texture of the dish. Tomatoes, peppers and peas are great options You are welcome to omit the parmesan and butter to make this dish completely plant based or substitute with plant-based alternatives. No salt is mentioned in this dish because the amount of salt varies depending on the broth option you choose, season with salt accordingly.
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More Recipes by Fran Allen
Fran Allen, CNP is a non-diet certified Holistic Nutritionist based in Toronto. Her work focuses on intuitive eating, achieving health at every size and dismantling diet culture. She uses her years of professional culinary experience to make meals fun, easy and satisfying.