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Authentic Italian Penicillin Soup (The Ultimate Sick Day Comfort Food)

A close-up of a steaming bowl of penicillin soup featuring shredded chicken, rotini pasta, bright orange carrots, and fresh parsley.
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This is a simple, soothing Italian chicken soup designed for comfort when you feel sick. It uses basic ingredients like chicken, vegetables, lemon, and small pasta to create a healing broth.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast (optional)
  • 1/2 cup pastina or small pasta shapes
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 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.
  2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Add the minced garlic and oregano. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Add the shredded chicken (if using) and the pastina. Cook according to the pasta package directions, usually about 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice.
  7. Season the soup with salt and pepper to your taste.
  8. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You can add white beans for protein.
  • If you do not have pastina, use small egg noodles or orzo pasta.
  • Use high-quality broth; it makes a difference in the final flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipesfleet.com/italian-penicillin-soup-recipe-when-sick/