If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you may have seen a recipe for something called pastina. But what is pastina, exactly? While the term does refer to an Italian dish made with small pasta cooked in broth, as well as cheese, butter, and an egg, pastina is also the name given to any very small pasta variety. To learn more about pastina, including how to make the popular TikTok dish as well as additional ways to cook with pastina pasta, keep reading!
What Is Pastina?
Believe it or not, there is more than one definition of the word pastina. In fact, there are three.
As a general term, pastina refers to any very small pasta shape. Typically, pastina is smaller than about 1/4 inch. Since pastina encompasses any variety of tiny pasta, it goes by several names and comes in many different shapes. In American grocery stores, you may see small round pastina called acini di pepe, which translates to “pepper seeds” in Italian, or stelline, which means “little stars”, and is a star-shaped small pasta. Though slightly larger, orzo also counts as pastina, as does corallini and ditalini.
As with many other pasta varieties, dried pastina is typically made with semolina flour, water, and salt. Due to its small size, pastina is often treated like rice, and used in dishes such as soups, salads, and pilaf. It can also be prepared in a similar way to risotto, and is a go-to pasta variety to serve to children.
To make things a bit trickier, there are some pasta brands that sell boxes of small pasta labeled pastina. Barilla makes pastina that is actually star-shaped, as does San Giorgio. Ronzoni also made a star-shaped pastina, but announced last year that the shape was being discontinued.
Lastly, as we mentioned above, pastina can also refer to a dish that combines any small pasta with cheese, butter, and usually an egg. Since this comforting dish is often given to people who are sick, it has earned the nickname “Italian Penicillin.” More on that version of pastina below.
How to Make Pastina
Ready to make pastina like a TikToker? You’ll need a box of any dried small pasta, such as acini de pepe, pastina, or stelline, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese, an egg, and freshly ground black pepper. Follow this recipe for a piping hot bowl of pastina that’s downright delicious.
- Add a half a cup of pasta and two of cups of chicken broth to a pot and bring to a boil. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed, and turn off the heat.
- Stir in one tablespoon of butter and ⅓ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If you don’t have fresh Parmesan cheese, store-bought Parm works too.
- Add a beaten egg to the pot with the pasta and cheese, and stir to combine.
- Garnish with more Parmesan cheese and several grinds of black pepper, and serve.
As you will see, pastina is ridiculously easy to make. Feel free to play with the amounts of broth, pasta, and cheese you use to best suit your taste. Not a fan of the egg? Go ahead and skip it. If you want a more soup-like meal, add more broth to the pot. For a richer take, stir in a tad more butter and/ or more freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It’s up to you!
Pastina Recipes
If you want to use your small pasta to make a recipe that goes beyond pastina, you can use pastina pasta (or a similar small shape) in place of orzo. Use pastina in this Orzo Tomato Salad, this Mushroom and Burrata Orzotto, or this Squash, Mushroom, and Kale Soup With Dill.
