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Authentic Italian Penicillin Soup: The Ultimate Comfort & Healing Recipe (With Pastina and Lemon)

Close-up of a steaming bowl of golden penicillin soup topped with grated cheese, black pepper, and fresh parsley.
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This Italian Penicillin Soup recipe delivers pure comfort when you feel unwell. It uses simple, nourishing ingredients like chicken broth, tender pastina, and a bright lemon finish, making it the best soup when sick.

Ingredients

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  • 6 cups high-quality chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pastina pasta (or small soup pasta)
  • 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken breast (optional, omit for vegetarian)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic, dried oregano, and dried basil 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 maintain a gentle simmer.
  4. Add the pastina pasta to the simmering broth. Cook according to the package directions, usually 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
  5. If using, stir in the cooked shredded chicken during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and the grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese melts into the broth.
  7. Season the soup with salt and black pepper to your taste.
  8. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with fresh chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately as a nourishing broth recipe.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian penicillin soup option, substitute the chicken broth with a rich vegetable broth and omit the chicken. You can add more vegetables like zucchini for substance.
  • If you want a smoother texture, you can puree half of the soup mixture before adding the pasta back in.
  • To make this a quick comfort food recipe, use high-quality store-bought broth.
  • This soup freezes well without the pasta; cook the pastina separately and add it fresh when reheating.

Nutrition

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