oh! we are officially in soup season and this foodie girl couldn’t be happier. 🙂
autumn is my favourite time of year when i feel like i thrive the most! although, i admit i do not love the change of light and losing of light and such, but i do love the food and the smells and the colours and the leaves and the slowing down…
mostly, i love making soups and so now is the time i will enjoy them more often. during summer months, when frequenting the farmers markets and local farm stands, i tend to stock up on fresh veggies (and/or delightful friends gift them to me), make my own broth, and create tons of soup to enjoy during the winter months.
this is such a lovely simple dish that is apparently a staple in many italian kitchens. it’s a way to get extra nutrients in your diet without actually eating vegetables, it’s a way to sneak in vegetables to kiddos, and it’s super health-conscious and fantastic as we move into the fall and winter seasons.
for me, the hardest part was finding the pasta shape. this teeny tiny pasta shape {pastina} is what makes this dish so special. it just feels so comforting and easy to eat and almost nostalgic. that’s kind of what i love about ancestral food… there’s just something so special about the simplicity of these comfort foods and how they’ve been passed down from generation to generation.
it all starts with the basic mirepoix blend… simmered in chicken stock {homemade is best – although this one is beef, i also make it with chicken} and cook until the veggies are tender. next, remove veggies from the stock and blend with a bit of the liquid. add mixture back into the pot with the pasta and cook until desired consistency. sometimes i add water or more broth. typically what i do is make the mirepoix blend ahead of time and freeze. then when i’m ready to serve, i heat the mixture and add the pasta as to not overcook. either way, basically it’s delicious no matter how you serve it.
finish with a healthy topping of freshly grated parmigiana reggiana and fresh parsley. sometimes i also add homemade croutons for a bit of crunch and extra flavour. nom nom! slurp slurp!
have you ever had this classic italian dish? do you add variations to it? i hope you try it sometime, it may change your life! 🙂
food & foto 