Italian Penicillin Soup: The Ultimate Comfort in a Bowl

Searching for the ultimate cold-weather soup that's more than just a meal? Look no further than Italian Penicillin Soup, also known affectionately as Sick Day Soup. This isn't your ordinary chicken noodle soup. It's a rich, soul-warming hug in a bowl, cleverly engineered for maximum flavor and comfort. With a "secret" technique that transforms humble vegetables into a velvety, flavor-packed broth, this recipe from our community is destined to become your new go-to for chilly days, sniffles, or anytime you need deep, satisfying comfort.

This soup masterfully balances tradition with a brilliant modern twist, making it a perfect example of the kind of hearty, flavor-forward recipes we love to share. At TFGoGoGo.com, we believe the best meals often come from smart techniques and reliable kitchen staples, and this soup is a testament to both.

 

Italian Penicillin Soup (Sick Day Soup)

• Prep Time: 10 mins

• Cook Time: 45 mins

• Total Time: 55 mins

• Servings: 6

• Rating: 4.7 stars (from 100 reviews)

Ingredients

• 8 cups lower-sodium chicken broth

• 2 cups chopped sweet onion

• 1 ½ cups peeled and coarsely chopped carrots

• 2 celery ribs, coarsely chopped

• 6 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled

• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt

• 4 fresh thyme sprigs

• 2 fresh bay leaves

• 1 (2-ounce) Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rind

• 4 ounces uncooked pastina pasta (or any tiny pasta like acini di pepe)

• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (or leftover cooked chicken)

• For garnish: Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and fresh flat-leaf parsley

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Build the Flavor Base: In a large saucepan or small Dutch oven, combine the chicken broth, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer over medium-low. Cook until the vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes.

2. The "Secret" Technique – Blend for Body: Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer the softened vegetables to a blender. Add about 1 cup of the hot broth to help them blend. Crucial Safety Step: Remove the center cap from the blender lid and cover the opening with a clean kitchen towel. This allows steam to escape safely. Blend on high until completely smooth and velvety, about 30 seconds.

3. Create the Rich Broth: Stir this beautifully smooth, orange-hued vegetable purée back into the pot of broth. This is the magic step that gives the soup incredible body, richness, and depth of flavor without any cream.

4. Simmer with Aromatics: To the pot, add the thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and the precious Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rind. Bring the soup back to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.

5. Cook the Pasta & Chicken: Stir in the pastina pasta, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let it simmer for 18-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, stir in the shredded chicken just to heat it through.

6. Finish and Serve: Remove the pot from the heat. Fish out and discard the thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and the now-softened cheese rind (its flavor will have infused the entire soup). Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish generously with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

👩🍳 Chef's Secrets for Success & Adaptations

• Why It Works: Blending the vegetables is a game-changer. It thickens the soup naturally, intensifies the vegetable sweetness, and creates a luxurious texture that coats every noodle and piece of chicken.

• The Power of the Parmesan Rind: Don't skip this! A Parmesan rind simmered in soup adds an unmistakable layer of savory, umami depth. Save rinds in a bag in your freezer for exactly this purpose.

• Pasta Note: Pastina ("little pasta") is traditional, but you can use any tiny pasta like orzo, stelline, or ditalini. To prevent the pasta from becoming too bloated if you have leftovers, you can cook it separately and add it to each bowl when serving.

• Make it Your Own:

  • Vegetable Boost: Add a handful of spinach or kale in the last minute of cooking.

  • Lemon Zest: A little grated lemon zest added with the garnish brightens all the flavors.

  • Spice it Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a gentle warmth.

• The Right Pot: A medium-sized Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot is ideal for this recipe. It distributes heat evenly for perfect simmering and is the perfect size for blending and returning the purée.

📊 A Look at the Nutrition (Per Serving)

This soup is nourishing and satisfying. Here’s an approximate nutritional breakdown:

Packed with protein from chicken, vitamins from vegetables, and comfort from every spoonful.

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Why This Recipe is a Kitchen Essential

Italian Penicillin Soup solves the eternal craving for something truly restorative. It’s more flavorful and substantial than a standard broth-based soup, yet lighter than a heavy stew. It’s the perfect easy weeknight dinner that feels special, an ideal meal prep lunch, and of course, the ultimate comfort food for colds.

It’s recipes like this—simple in concept but brilliant in execution—that we celebrate at TFGoGoGo.com. We provide the detailed, reliable recipes that work, and we seek out the practical kitchen tools (like a good blender and a sturdy pot) that help you execute them with ease and confidence.

Ready to warm up from the inside out? For more soul-satisfying recipes and our honest takes on the kitchen tools that make cooking a joy, visit the full collection on our blog at tfgogogo.com.