Pastina al Pomodoro

By Anna Francese Gass

Updated September 12, 2024

  • Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.
Media 1 of 2
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(1,009)
Comments
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Pastina al pomodoro is a classic Italian dish of small pasta that is cooked in the style of risotto until creamy and comforting. Orzo is the traditional pasta of choice for this dish, as its shape resembles a grain of rice, but pastina (small pasta) can be made with several different shapes of pasta. The pasta is cooked using the risottata method: It gets toasted with aromatics in olive oil, stirred to coat in tomato sauce and then simmered until tender, gradually moistened with hot water as you would with a risotto. This process releases the starch from the pasta, giving the sauce an incredibly creamy texture and mellowing the acidity in the tomato sauce. Sauce and pasta cook simultaneously in this one-pot pastina, creating a perfect weeknight meal with little effort.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings (about 4 cups)

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish

  • 1 small yellow onion, minced

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • 5 to 6 basil leaves

  • Salt and pepper

  • 1 cup orzo

  • 2 cups/16 ounces tomato passata or purée

  • 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for garnish

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

33 grams carbs; 25 milligrams cholesterol; 356 calories; 8 grams monosaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 17 grams fat; 3 grams fiber; 473 milligrams sodium; 19 grams protein; 7 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat 3 cups of water in a small saucepan; cover and set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and tear in 2 basil leaves. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper.

  3. Step 3

    Add the orzo and stir to coat in the oil until the pasta begins to toast, about 2 minutes. Lower the heat to medium-low and stir in the tomato passata and ½ cup of the hot water.

  4. Step 4

    Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add another ½ cup hot water. Repeat one or two more times, until pasta is tender and saucy. (You may need only 1 ½ cups of hot water, or well over 2 cups.)

  5. Step 5

    Stir in the cheese; season to taste with salt and pepper.

  6. Step 6

    Divide the pastina among bowls. Top with a generous sprinkle of cheese and a drizzle of oil. Tear the rest of the basil and sprinkle on top.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,009 user ratings
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Comments

Zane

An electric kettle is your friend here if you don't feel like messing around with a saucepan and ladle for the hot water.

Patricia

I,too, was the daughter of an Italian American mother. I think pastina with butter and sheep's milk parmesan cheese (always Locatelli brand) was my first solid food and always a favorite as I grew.

Dave

For anyone else confused by the term “tomato passata”, it’s just tomato puree.

Ginny P

My new comfort food, I was concerned that it would not work with gluten free (brown rice) orzo, but it did, beautifully. Jovial is my go-to brand

Ginny P

My new comfort food! I was concerned that it might not work with gluten free orzo, but it did, beautifully. Jovial is my go-to brand for gluten free pasta. They have nailed the texture. I also used tomato purée freshly made from my garden, but I think it would still be good with crushed tomatoes or bottled purée as well. I’m going to take the advice of others and use broth for the water next time. Just want to say how much I depend on NYT cooking. I have multiple food allergies (five of the top nine) and the comments section is incredibly helpful for modifying recipes. Thanks to all of you.

CMB

Perfect as written as a recipe and it welcomes variation. Love it as a meal the night it is made. Another favorite is to make it the night before a bunch. Pack it into a loaf pan. Chill overnight. Slice and char in a cast iron pan as the base for a poached egg. It helps if chili flakes was used in the prep of the pasta. Drizzle of chili oil.

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