Longbourn Farm

Simple Homemade Recipes & Farm Tips

  • About
    • Press
    • Contact
  • Cookbook
  • Meal Plans
  • Work with Me
  • Resources
  • Blog
    • Recipes
      • 30 Minutes or Less
      • Main Dish
      • Dessert
      • Breakfast
      • Bread
      • Appetizer
      • Side Dish
      • Soup
      • Salad
      • Drinks
    • Gardening
    • Chickens
    • Farm
      • Beekeeping
      • Livestock
      • Land
      • Horse
Home » Recipes & Tips » 30 Minutes or Less » Pastina – An Old Family Classic

Pastina – An Old Family Classic

03/22/21 | 30 Minutes or Less, Recipes & Tips, Side Dish

Jump to Recipe - Pin Recipe
Pastina is an old family classic that will become a favorite in your household too! It's an Italian classic comfort food that makes a perfect side dish, lunch for the kiddos, or even a lighter full meal! #pastina #pasta #easypasta #pastarecipe #italianfood #pastinarecipe #acinidepepe #classicitalian #italianclassic #oldrecipe #familyrecipe #fromscratch #homemade #familymeal #dinnertimePastina is an old family classic that will become a favorite in your household too! It's an Italian classic comfort food that makes a perfect side dish, lunch for the kiddos, or even a lighter full meal! #pastina #pasta #easypasta #pastarecipe #italianfood #pastinarecipe #acinidepepe #classicitalian #italianclassic #oldrecipe #familyrecipe #fromscratch #homemade #familymeal #dinnertime

Pastina is an old family classic that will become a favorite in your household too! It’s an Italian classic comfort food that makes a perfect side dish, lunch for the kiddos, or even a lighter full meal! 

What is Pastina?

Pastina is a small tiny pasta it is also called acini de pepe as well. It is not the same as orzo or couscous. Sometimes it can be difficult to find but it should be in the pasta section near all the other pasta!

Why is pastina called pastina?

Pastina literally means pasta in Italian. It can also be called acini de pepe which translates to “berries of the pepper” and can refer to “tiny pearls” which is what pastina looks like.

What is similar to pastina?

Acini de pepe is similar to pastina.

Pastina (Acini de Pepe Recipe) Ingredients

  • Pastina
  • Chicken broth
  • Mozarella cheese, or any mild cheese
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Parmesan
  • Egg
  • Lemon juice

As with most Italian recipes, the ingredients are simple – pasta, some cheese, lemon, and an egg. The pasta is sometimes labeled as Pastina or it can be labeled as Acini de Pepe {which actually means grains of pepper or something}, I’ve seen it both ways! It’s just tiny round balls of pasta, you’ve probably seen it in recipes like Frog Eye Salad.

My mom, aunt or grandmother would make this for me and my cousins whenever we were sick. Sometimes it would be how I made it, most often they made it with american cheese, and sometimes it would be more brothy like a soup.

How to make Pastina

  1. In a saucepan, bring your 3 cups of broth or water and the pastina to a boil.

    Stir occasionally.

  2. Add in more water/liquid as needed.

    You won’t be draining the liquid out of the pot, so make sure to keep an eye on the pot so that the liquid doesn’t evaporate.

  3. After the pasta has mostly finished cooking, there should still be a bit of liquid remaining in the pot.

  4. Stir in the cheeses, salt, pepper, and egg until the cheese has melted and everything is combined. 

  5. It’s normal to see streaks of egg white throughout the pastina.

  6. Squeeze in the lemon juice from half of a lemon and stir.

    Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Personally, I like to add in a lot of lemon juice.

Pastina Recipe FAQs and Tips

Is pastina the same as acini de pepe?

These are essentially the same thing and can be interchanged in recipes without fail. Pastina is Italian for “tiny pasta” and can be thought of as a category for smaller pastas like acini de pepe, orzo, and those tiny pasta pieces you find in ABC soup (as examples).

You will often find pastina pasta in the grocery store’s pasta section in a small box labeled Acini De Pepe. A small box of it is about 12 ounces.

Does pastina have raw egg?

While we will be adding a raw egg into the mixture, the residual heat of the dish and the acidity of the lemon juice will cook the egg. Make sure to work swiftly and efficiently to make sure that the instructions are followed and the egg is safely cooked for consmption.

What does adding an egg to pasta do?

Egg whites help to work as a binder in baking recipes but in this pasta dish it helps to add to the creamy and thick texture of the dish. Giving it a subtle and rich flavor while leaving behind a velvety smooth texture that works great with the melted cheese.

What can I use if I can’t find acini de pepe?

If you can find this tiny noodle a good (and easy) sub to try is Orzo pasta. While it’s not the same shape, it is still a small pasta that should cook relatively the same. Just keep an eye on the liquid in the pot as it cooks because it may need a bit more than the smaller pasta balls.

What is the difference between orzo and acini de pepe?

Orzo is pasta just like acini de pepe but it is shaped like an oval instead of a small ball.

What can you replace acini de pepe with?

You can substitute acini de pepe with pastina or orzo. Orzo won’t be the same but it will still be delicious.

What to Serve with this Acini de Pepe Recipe

  • Easy Cucumber Salad
  • Lemon Salad Dressing with Easy Green Salad
  • How to Cook Frozen Peas
  • How to Meal Prep Chicken
  • Grilled T-Bone Steak
  • Skillet Chicken with Lemon Sauce

More favorites from Longbourn Farm

  • Candy Bar Cookies
  • Tenderloin Recipe
  • Green Beans and Bacon
  • Pork Chop Marinade Recipe
  • Moist Cornbread
  • Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
  • Blueberry Quick Bread
  • Soft Pretzel Bites
  • How to Raise Chickens for Eggs
  • Herb Bread Recipe
  • Raised Planter Boxes
  • Smoked Beef Ribs
  • How to Cook Chicken Breast in Oven
  • Traditional Apple Pie Recipe
  • Marshmallow Fluff Fudge
  • Mixed Berry Pie Recipe
  • Blueberry Dutch Oven Cobbler
  • Skillet Mac and Cheese
  • Apple Oatmeal
  • Homemade Bread
wooden spoons resting on a bowl full of pastina with a lemon slice to the top
Print Pin
4.91 from 10 votes
Share on Facebook

Patina (Acini de Pepe) Recipe

Pastina is an old family classic that will become a favorite in your household too! It's an Italian classic comfort food that makes a perfect side dish, lunch for the kiddos, or even a lighter full meal! 
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword acini de pepe, pastina
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 377kcal
Author Alli
Get ad-free recipes in PrepearLearn more about Prepear here!

Equipment

  • Redmond Real Salt
  • Pan Set
  • Wooden Kitchen Utensils
  • Liquid Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Non-Stick Pan Set

Ingredients

  • 12 oz Pastina pasta 1 box, see note
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups water extra may be needed
  • 1/4 cup mozarella cheese shredded
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg room temperature is best, see note
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon parsley fresh chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh squeezed
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Measure 2 cups of broth and 2 cups of water into a saucepan. Add the pastina and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. 
  • You will not be draining the pasta, so check the liquid level frequently and add more as needed.
  • When the pasta is mostly cooked, there should be a small amount of liquid left in the pan. 
  • Add the rest of the ingredients, besides the lemon juice, and stir until the cheese is melted and everything is combined. 
  • There will be streaks of cooked egg white in the pastina, that is normal. 
  • Squeeze in the juice from half of a lemon, stir, and taste. Adjust seasonings and lemon to your taste. I like a lot of lemon juice. 

Video

Follow me on YouTube!Watch more videos and subscribe!

Notes

Pastina is sometimes labeled acini de pepe in the store, both are the same and will work great in this dish. 12 oz is usually the weight measurement on 1 box. 
You will not be draining this pasta, so only add as much water or broth as you need. I like the additional flavor chicken broth adds but you can use water or vegetable broth as well. 
Any cheese you have on hand will probably work in this dish. My mom always used american cheese but I don’t usually have that on hand so I throw in a couple slices of whatever is around. If you don’t have any parm, just leave it out. 
Since we just crack the egg right into the hot pasta without tempering it (bringing it up to the temperature of the pasta slowly) it will start to cook immediately and leave white streaks of cooked egg white through the pastina. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 1361mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 16.6mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3.4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @longbournfarm or tag #longbournfarm!

Comments | 54 comments

« Strawberry Shortcake Muffins
Old Fashioned Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese »

Comments

  1. Jessica says

    May 21, 2022 at 11:58 AM

    5 stars
    Made exactly as written, and WOW! So tasty. Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply
  2. maryanne Brown says

    May 14, 2021 at 6:51 PM

    Pastina is tiny stars. On the box it says pastina.

    Reply
    • Alli says

      May 17, 2021 at 10:43 AM

      Yes, some brands have stars for the shape of pastina.

      Reply
  3. Btooklyn says

    September 22, 2020 at 2:11 PM

    Pastina and ancina de Pepe r two different pastas

    Reply
    • Alli says

      September 22, 2020 at 3:40 PM

      Yes, by a 1mm difference. Both will work for the purposes of this recipe and are basically the same.

      Reply
  4. Al says

    August 30, 2019 at 3:54 PM

    My mom made me something similar to this when I was sick as a child. I really liked it except for the strings of egg white.

    Is there a reason why you wouldn’t beat the egg before adding it?

    Reply
    • Alli says

      August 31, 2019 at 11:43 PM

      Just tradition for me, if you want the egg to be more evenly blended, beat it and add a small amount of the hot noddles to the egg to temper it and then pour that mixture into the whole pasta! Should turn out great.

      Reply
  5. Joe D says

    August 20, 2019 at 8:18 AM

    4 stars
    Nice recipe. I’d never heard of acini de pepe and pastina being used interchangeably before. Maybe it’s just the pasta brands I know best, but Ronzoni & Barilla always clearly distinguished between the two, with what you’ve used in this recipe labeled “acini de pepe” and much smaller pasta called “pastina”. What I’ve always know as pastina is the almost cous-cous-like grains in the picture for this recipe:
    https://leitesculinaria.com/78234/recipes-pastina-with-butter-and-milk.html

    Reply
    • Alli says

      August 20, 2019 at 11:08 PM

      I’ve never seen both sold by the same brand. For the purposes of this recipe, both work just fine and turn out basically identical. I’ve used both many, many times. The picture you referenced is star-shaped pastina, which is why it has a grainy appearance at first glance. You’re really just seeing the many tiny points of the stars.

      Reply
  6. Daria says

    February 5, 2019 at 7:54 PM

    5 stars
    We make it with butter, egg and milk. No cheese

    Reply
    • Alli says

      February 5, 2019 at 7:57 PM

      Great variation!

      Reply
  7. Alli says

    January 16, 2018 at 6:13 AM

    5 stars
    Family favorite!

    Reply
  8. Ana says

    January 7, 2018 at 6:52 PM

    On a whim I decided to try this on my ultra picky 7yr old eater. This was REALLY good. I didn’t add enough liquid so it kind of became a ‘cake’ when slightly cooled but next time I will add more stock to make it a little more creamy. I did half the recipe but this WILL be made again. Just stumbled on your site today and have already pinned a few recipes to try….now I just have to find time to make them all!

    Reply
    • Alli says

      January 8, 2018 at 6:55 AM

      I’m so glad you liked it, Ana!! Thank you so much for your kind words – I hope you love all the recipes!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. PASTINA - Italian Comfort Food Recipe - Happy Apples Recipes says:
    February 8, 2023 at 11:34 AM

    […] balls of pasta, you’ve probably seen it in recipes like Frog Eye Salad. Find the full recipe at https://longbournfarm.com/pastina-family-classic/ Learn 3 steps you need to get homemade meals on the table every night!: […]

    Reply
  2. Pastina Recipes - Tried & True says:
    February 5, 2023 at 9:03 AM

    […] CLASSIC CHEESE AND EGG PASTINA […]

    Reply
  3. PASTINA - Italian Comfort Food Recipe - My Home Chef Recipes says:
    January 22, 2023 at 7:36 AM

    […] balls of pasta, you’ve probably seen it in recipes like Frog Eye Salad. Find the full recipe at https://longbournfarm.com/pastina-family-classic/ Learn 3 steps you need to get homemade meals on the table every night!: […]

    Reply
  4. 5 Pastina Substitutes for Ronzoni Fans Everywhere says:
    January 17, 2023 at 3:20 PM

    […] tiny orbs of pasta are just like pastina. Sadly, they aren’t star-shaped, but if you want a very similar feel, seek this pasta—whose name means “seeds of pepper” in Italian—out in […]

    Reply
  5. How to Cook Frozen Green Beans • Longbourn Farm says:
    August 29, 2022 at 9:57 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  6. Food Lovin' Family - Easy, family friendly recipes. says:
    August 23, 2022 at 2:26 PM

    […] 22. Pastina […]

    Reply
  7. Triple Berry Pie Recipe (Open Faced) • Longbourn Farm says:
    July 18, 2022 at 9:48 AM

    […] Tiny Pasta […]

    Reply
  8. Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe • Longbourn Farm says:
    June 20, 2022 at 11:02 PM

    […] What is Pastina […]

    Reply
  9. Creamy Tuscan Chicken • Longbourn Farm says:
    June 8, 2022 at 10:40 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  10. How to Cook Snow Peas • Longbourn Farm says:
    June 10, 2021 at 9:24 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  11. How to Meal Prep Chicken • Longbourn Farm says:
    February 17, 2021 at 2:42 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  12. Frozen Peas and Carrots • Longbourn Farm says:
    February 15, 2021 at 9:34 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  13. Blueberry French Toast Bake • Longbourn Farm says:
    February 4, 2021 at 3:21 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  14. Instant Pot Carrot Soup • Longbourn Farm says:
    February 2, 2021 at 9:24 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  15. 7 Layer Taco Dip • Longbourn Farm says:
    February 2, 2021 at 9:22 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  16. Orange Shortbread Cookies • Longbourn Farm says:
    December 22, 2020 at 5:50 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  17. Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies • Longbourn Farm says:
    December 21, 2020 at 10:17 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  18. Homemade Turtle Candy • Longbourn Farm says:
    December 21, 2020 at 9:50 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  19. Rocky Road Cookies • Longbourn Farm says:
    December 14, 2020 at 6:29 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  20. Easy Cherry Crisp • Longbourn Farm says:
    December 9, 2020 at 10:35 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  21. Peanut Butter Truffles • Longbourn Farm says:
    December 7, 2020 at 10:30 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  22. Easy Lemon Pound Cake • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 25, 2020 at 5:43 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  23. Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 23, 2020 at 8:37 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  24. How to Shape Dinner Rolls • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 23, 2020 at 11:37 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  25. Instant Pot Carrots • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 18, 2020 at 5:15 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  26. Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 13, 2020 at 6:41 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  27. Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 11, 2020 at 5:29 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  28. Cinnamon Butternut Roasted Squash • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 10, 2020 at 6:12 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  29. Baked Apple Cider Donuts • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 7, 2020 at 2:11 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  30. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies • Longbourn Farm says:
    November 5, 2020 at 11:58 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  31. Zucchini Carrot Muffins • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 29, 2020 at 6:59 AM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  32. Skillet Chicken with Lemon Sauce • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 28, 2020 at 10:29 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  33. Chocolate Sugar Cookies • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 28, 2020 at 10:25 PM

    […] Pastina […]

    Reply
  34. Almond Poppy Seed Bread • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 21, 2020 at 7:23 AM

    […] Pastina (Old Family Classic) […]

    Reply
  35. Gingerbread Cookie Bars • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 16, 2020 at 5:53 AM

    […] Pastina (Old Family Classic) […]

    Reply
  36. Maple Bacon Pancakes • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 12, 2020 at 5:02 AM

    […] Pastina (Old Family Classic) […]

    Reply
  37. Split Pea and Ham Soup • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 7, 2020 at 5:23 AM

    […] Pastina (Old Family Classic) […]

    Reply
  38. Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 2, 2020 at 2:24 PM

    […] Pastina (Old Family Classic) […]

    Reply
  39. Halloween Pretzels • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 2, 2020 at 1:58 PM

    […] Pastina (Old Family Classic) […]

    Reply
  40. How to Make Beef Gravy • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 2, 2020 at 1:58 PM

    […] Pastina (Old Family Classic) […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Hi, Friend!


Alli Kelley is an Agriculture focused entrepreneur. She runs a successful food blog, a consulting and coaching business, and all the social media connected with an online presence.

She also owns and operates a small, diversified farmstead where she enjoys home improvement projects, experimenting in the garden, creating profitable mini businesses on the farm, and of course, riding her big grey horse, Zane.
Read More…

Agriculture

Side view of a full DIY chicken waterer.

DIY Chicken Waterer Tutorial

posted in Animal and Land, Chickens, Farm & Family, Livestock

(sponsored)Are you wasting $2500 a year on food? Learn how to reduce food waste in your home and get the most out of your dollar and reduce your environmental impact! @beeffordinner #BeefItsWhatsForDinner #NicelyDone #beeffarmersandranchers

How to Reduce Food Waste

posted in Animal and Land, Livestock, Main Dish, Recipes & Tips

pasture full of cows

Where Does Beef Come From?

posted in Animal and Land, Livestock

Meal Plans + Ad-Free Recipes

less stress save time prepare ad
FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: The way I provide you with free content is through affiliate links and some of the links in the post above may be affiliate links, they will be marked in the post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to YOU. Read terms here.

Copyright © 2023 · Longbourn Farm • Tasteful Theme by Restored 316

Longbourn Farm
  • Home
  • Cookbook
  • Meal Plans
  • Work With Me
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Gardening
  • Chickens
  • Farm