Sick Day Star Soup! While we love this as a sick day soup, this one is also great if your kiddos are learning to like celery and/or carrots. Blended into the broth, it provides a slight veggie taste without the texture of cooked vegetables.
Alex created this soup one week when her kids were sick. It’s a version of the way her mom used to make it when she was a kid, and now it’s a fun way to pass on that tradition to her kids. We thought you might enjoy it, too!
What is pastina?
Pastina is mini star-shaped pasta. You can find it at some groceries stores. If you can’t, other small noodles will work. Orzo would be a great replacement and even alphabet noodles or ditalini. Smaller-sized pasta is easier for kids to eat when they are sick. This warm soup will also help little sore throats feel better while providing important hydration and veggie-packed nutrition.
Enjoy this soup as is, or you can stir in a little butter/parm cheese (and dairy-free versions) for a creamier option. You can even add a little nooch (nutritional yeast)! We don’t think this needs more salt depending on what broth you use, but you may need to season with salt/pepper if you like!
Cozy and comforting, it’s the perfect nourishing bowl of soup for when you’re not feeling great. It also makes for a delicious lunch option packed into a thermos.
Tips for Success
- If you don’t have or can’t find star-shaped pastina, then any small-sized pasta will work such as orzo or alphabet noodles.
- Pro-Tip: You can even chop the vegetables in advance and freeze them in a bag with the air removed. Then you’ll always have vegetables ready for whipping up this comforting soup on sick days or any day at all. Frozen vegetables can be placed right into the boiling broth without defrosting.
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Veggie-Packed Sick Day Star Soup
Ingredients
- 1 carrot chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1/2 white or yellow onion chopped
- 6 cups broth
- 1 cup mini star pasta (pastina)
Instructions
- Start by roughly chopping the carrot, celery, and onion.1 carrot, 2 celery stalks, 1/2 white or yellow onion
- Bring broth to a boil. Add the vegetables to the warm broth and let simmer until softened, about 10-15 minutes.6 cups broth
- Remove the veggies and place them into a blender along with ~2 cups of the broth. Purée until creamy and add back to the soup along with the pasta.1 cup mini star pasta
- Cook until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.
Notes
More Recipes and Nutrition Tips for Sick Kids
- Nutrition Tips for Sick Kids
- Surviving Cold and Flu Season with Kids
- How to Help Kids Gain Back Their Appetite After Sickness
- Foods to Keep Your Toddler Hydrated
- Immunity Boosting Foods for Kids
- What to Feed a Toddler with Diarrhea
