Pastina with tomato

Pastina with tomato is a simple and comforting dish, a classic in Italian home cooking, ideal for both adults and children. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 100 grams of pastina (any small shape will do, such as stars, pearl barley, or ditalini)
• 400 grams of canned peeled tomatoes or tomato puree
• 1 clove of garlic
• Fresh basil to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Salt to taste
• grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation

1. In a pot, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and lightly fry the whole garlic clove until golden. You can remove it later if you prefer a less intense flavor.
2. Add the peeled tomatoes or tomato puree to the pot. If using peeled tomatoes, slightly crush them with a fork. Cook over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes. During cooking, add whole or hand-torn basil leaves.
3. In the meantime, bring another pot of plentiful salted water to a boil and cook the pastina according to the time indicated on the package.
4. Once the tomato sauce has reached the desired consistency, adjust the salt.
5. When the pastina is cooked, drain it and add it to the tomato sauce in the pot, stirring well to distribute the seasoning.
6. Serve hot with a sprinkling of Parmesan if desired.

Curiosity

Pastina with tomato can be enriched with other ingredients to make the dish heartier, such as vegetables (zucchini, spinach, etc.) or protein (egg, cheese, minced meat, etc.), turning it into a more complete soup. It’s also a dish that is highly adaptable to many dietary needs and personal tastes.