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Chicken Golden Soup with Pastina

A soothing, golden-hued chicken soup with tiny star-shaped pastina pasta, designed to be gentle and nourishing.

Time40 minutes
Serves4
EffortEasy
A golden bowl of chicken soup with tiny pastina pasta, shredded chicken and fresh herbs.
Texture level

5 · Minced & Moist

Soft, moist, and finely minced into very small pieces that mash easily with light pressure from a fork. Any sauce or gravy should cling rather than separate.

Suitable for anyone who finds food hard to chew or swallow. Graded IDDSI Level 5 (Minced & Moist) — soft, minced & easy to swallow — the texture standard used in dysphagia care and soft diets.

See all texture levels

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 8 cups Low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup Pastina pasta Tiny star-shaped or small soup pasta
  • 2 medium Carrots, diced very small
  • 2 stalks Celery, diced very small
  • 1 small Onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric For golden color and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken breasts with pepper. In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

  2. Add the whole chicken breasts to the simmering broth. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and very tender.

  3. Remove the chicken and let it rest for 10 minutes. Use two forks to shred it into small, tender pieces. The chicken should shred easily without any resistance.

  4. In the same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until very soft, about 8 minutes.

  5. Add the garlic and turmeric, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.

  6. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Add the pastina pasta and cook according to package directions, usually 8-10 minutes, until very soft.

  7. Return the shredded chicken to the pot. The pasta should be soft enough to mash with a fork.

  8. Stir in the fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning. The soup should be comforting and easy to eat.

  9. If swallowing is difficult, the soup can be served as-is or lightly mashed to combine the pasta and chicken further.

Serving Tips

Important Guidance

  • Cook the pasta slightly longer than package directions recommend for a softer texture.
  • Dice the vegetables very finely so they don't need any chewing.
  • The chicken should be so tender it falls apart in the broth.
  • For pureed diets, blend the entire soup until completely smooth before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories~370 kcal
Protein~34 g
Fat~7 g
Carbohydrates~41 g
Sodium~450 mg
Cholesterol~70 mg

Estimated from the listed ingredients across 4 servings, using low-sodium broth as called for. This is an estimate, not a lab-tested nutrition label.

Dietary Notes

Gluten-free option available using rice pasta or omit pasta entirely. Low-sodium version using homemade broth.