HAVE YOU EVER HAD PASTINA BEFORE?

Well, in our family growing up, there wasn’t a week that went by without a bowl of warm, velvety Pastina! Also called Acini de Pepe (“little pasta”), my Mom would always make some for us either for breakfast or when we were sick. Memories of the pasta boiling away, and Mom getting out the sugar, milk and butter makes my heart happy! (Not to mention my belly!)

So simple to make, it just takes 10 minutes to boil the pasta, drain, and serve up in a bowl with a tab of butter, teaspoon or so of sugar, and a little milk. Mixing it around and watching the butter melt in while the pasta is still hot and steam is coming off the bowl will always comfort me. There wasn’t one Italian family that didn’t have this little pasta in their repertoire of recipes! 

HAVE YOU EVER HAD PASTINA BEFORE?

Each family would have a slightly different version, with my Mom making it creamy and sweet, and my grandmother making it with butter and grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Oh and adding nutmeg just finishes it off! Yum! It’s also a great pasta for babies and young children, too! I’ve also put it in my Escarole (Wedding) Soup, served it as a side to chicken or fish, or cold in a green bean salad! The possibilities are endless! 

Pastina can be a little hard to find, and we’ve always had the Ronzoni’s brand. However, I have heard they may be discontinuing it! Uh oh! I must stock up! Let me know what you remember about Pastina, or if you have recipe ideas! 

Until next time,

Let’s get cookin’ together,

Madeline 

Print Recipe

Creamy Pastina or "Acini di Pepe" (Little Pasta)

This pasta dish with a couple variations brings back so many memories growing up in an Italian family. You will love the simplicity and ease of making this pasta dish for all ages!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: AcinidiPepe, creamypastina, easypastarecipe, littlepasta, pastina, velvetypastadish

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Madeline Kohler

Equipment

• 1 4 - 8 Quart Pot with Lid

Ingredients

• 8 ounces dry Acini di Pepe (Pastina) pasta
• 4 quarts water
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tsp sugar
• 4 ounces milk
• 4 tbsp grated cheese (I use Pecorino Romano)
• sprinkle of nutmeg optional

Instructions

• Boil pasta according to instructions (usually about 10 minutes).
• Drain pasta and return to pot.
• Add butter, milk and sugar.
• Toss and serve immediately.
• In place of the sugar, you can substitute grated cheese and nutmeg.

Notes