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Italian Penicillin Soup

Italian Penicillin Soup

Italian Penicillin Soup is a classic healing comfort food made with tender chicken, tiny pasta, and a soothing broth. Often served on sick days, this traditional Italian soup is light, nourishing, anti-inflammatory, and easy to digest — perfect when you need warmth and recovery in a bowl.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely diced
  • 2 carrots finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¾ cup pastina or ditalini pasta
  • ½ tsp salt or to taste
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice optional
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Method
 

  1. Sauté the vegetables
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5–6 minutes until softened.
  3. Add garlic and broth
  4. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and add bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  5. Cook the chicken
  6. Add chicken directly to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 15–18 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  7. Shred the chicken
  8. Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return it to the soup.
  9. Add the pasta
  10. Stir in pastina or ditalini and cook 6–8 minutes until pasta is tender.
  11. Season and finish
  12. Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in parsley and lemon juice if using.
  13. Serve warm
  14. Ladle into bowls and top with Parmesan if desired.

Notes

For extra comfort: Whisk 1 beaten egg into the hot soup for a classic Italian touch.
Make it anti-inflammatory: Add turmeric or ginger in small amounts.
Vegetarian version: Use vegetable broth and skip chicken for an Italian Vegetable Soup.
Make ahead: Cook pasta separately to prevent thickening when stored.