Chicken Broth with Pastina
Tiny pasta stars simmered in rich chicken broth until cloud-soft. The meal Italian grandmothers make for sick grandchildren—gentle, warm, and ready in 15 minutes.
Chicken Broth with Pastina
Tiny pasta stars simmered in rich chicken broth until cloud-soft. The meal Italian grandmothers make for sick grandchildren—gentle, warm, and ready in 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- Low FODMAP
- Low FODMAP
- Low FODMAP
- Low FODMAP
- Low FODMAP
Instructions
Bring chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
Equipment: medium saucepanAdd pastina and stir to prevent sticking.
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is very tender and cloud-soft (not al dente—you want it extra gentle).
Tip: Cook past al dente—cloud-soft is gentler on inflamed intestinesRemove from heat and stir in butter until it melts into the broth.
Ladle into bowls while still steaming hot.
Top with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan and fresh parsley if using.
Serve immediately—the pasta will continue to absorb broth as it sits.
Tip: The pasta absorbs broth as it sits—serve immediately or add extra broth when reheating
Notes
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The pasta absorbs more broth as it sits, so add a splash of extra broth when reheating on the stovetop over low heat.
Pastina shapes
Look for stelline (stars), acini di pepe (peppercorns), alfabeto (letters), or orzo. Any tiny pasta works—smaller shapes cook to a softer texture that's gentler on the gut.
Broth quality
Homemade chicken broth or bone broth provides more gut-supportive nutrients (collagen, glutamine, glycine). If using store-bought, choose low-sodium so you control the salt level, and verify it's garlic/onion-free for low-FODMAP compliance.
Dairy-free option
Use olive oil or ghee instead of butter. Both are equally gentle on the gut.
Gluten-free option
Substitute gluten-free pastina or small-grain white rice. Cook rice for 15-18 minutes instead of 6-8 until very tender.
Stricture caution
Cook the pasta 2-3 minutes longer than package directions. It should be cloud-soft, not al dente, to reduce blockage risk. Choose the smallest shapes available.
IBD Considerations
Diet Protocol Compliance
How this recipe fits common IBD dietary approaches
