star soup for the soul
My mom’s fantastic cooking was the underpinning of my entire childhood and yet, anytime I was sick, I would exclusively request the boxed Lipton’s Noodle Soup. I was a fairly particular eater as a child (…I can feel both my parents quietly laughing to themselves about this right now…), including identifying as an adamant chicken soup hater (though in my defense, it really was a meat texture thing). I’m sure my mother was simply exhausted most of the time taking care of her sick baby that she would cave on her anti-highly-processed-food standard just about every time — if only we knew then that we were missing the simplest, quintessentially most comforting, nutrient dense, veggie-filled soup of all time. I genuinely wish I had a time machine for the exclusive purpose of slipping this gem of a recipe to my mom. This veggie star soup, aka pastina soup or “Italian penicillin,” per Sherri Davidson of The Tasteful Blonde, is now the soup my soul craves when comfort is needed. My minimally zhuzhed iteration of this soup is pulled from Miss Davidson’s Instagram — her recipe is virtually perfect, my primary call outs are simply swapping in gluten free pasta and making it even more healing with the bone broth.
INGREDIENTS
✧ 14 -28 fl oz organic pasture raised chicken bone broth
✧ 2- 4 c filtered water to submerge veggies
✧ 1 yellow onion
✧ 4 large carrots
✧ 4-6 large celery stalks
✧ 6 garlic cloves
✧ Salt or optional vege-sal, to taste
✧ Black or red pepper flakes, to taste
✧ 1 box Stelline pasta
OPTIONAL FOR SERVING
✧ Top with EVOO
✧ Fresh grated parmesan
✧ Salt and pepper to taste
NOTES
꩜ Jovial’s Organic Gluten Free Brown Rice Stelline is always stocked in my pantry, specifically for this recipe! It’s the only Stelline I’ve found that’s gluten-free and with limited ingredients.
꩜ Shop wild, organic (spices & oils included) & in season whenever possible, plus make sure to fully clean all residue off produce with baking soda prior to cooking.
꩜ I love the bone broths from FOND - the turmeric and black pepper one is simply divine and a provides a perfect bonus immune boost when in need!
꩜ Cut back on the water if using 2 jars of bone broth.
꩜ When it’s cozy star soup night, I just use what I have in the cupboard/fridge, so sometimes the broth will be more vibrant than others, but it is always delicious and nutrient dense without fail — the soup truly is virtually fool proof!
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Pour bone broth and water into a large pot.
2. Add whole cleaned onion, peeled and halved carrots, washed celery and garlic cloves to pot.
3. Bring put to a rapid boil for 20 - 30 minutes or until the veggies are nice and tender.
4. While waiting on the veggies, cook the Stelline separately per the box instructions.
5. Once tender, scoop out the vegetables from the stock pot with a slotted spoon and place directly into a blender or food processor.
6. Add about 3 ladles of bone broth to the blender and process until smooth.
7. Poor blended contents back into the stock pot and stir to combine.
8a. If feeling fancy, serve in a bowl with your Stelline, ladling the blended veggie broth over the pasta, topping with olive oil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
8b. Alternatively, cooked pasta that’s been lightly coated in olive oil can be added directly to the stock put and combined in one fell swoop — the consistency will just be become a bit thicker, especially as a leftover — think gourmet spaghetti o’s — and then bowls can all be individually topped with desired toppings.
As with everything I make, I love to know the ingredients will fuel not only a beautiful plate, but a beautiful feeling inside. Steeped in the culture of being raised in Japanese and Italian homes, I understand the magnitude of importance food holds. I also believe in the philosophy of eating to live versus living to eat. It really is not about deprivation, it’s about remaining mindful and raising the vibration — no matter how incredible something taste’s, it’s also about how it “tastes” to our minds, bodies and souls that will keep the true “deliciousness” with us long past the moment of actual consumption. Pillars I continue to remind myself:
1. The quality of ingredients matter.
2. Less is always more.
3. Think loving thoughts while cooking and the food will taste better! #truth
4. Remain present while enjoying the intimate act of eating, it’s a game changer.
With love & gratitude, cheers to your good health!
medical disclaimer: all information is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered as personal medical advice. individuals should always consult their healthcare provider before administering any of the suggestions made on thebalancedcalm.com to ensure they are appropriate for their specific circumstance.
