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Pastina al Pomodoro

By Anna Francese Gass

Updated Sept. 13, 2024

Pastina al Pomodoro
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(587)
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)
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
  • 1small yellow onion, minced
  • 1garlic clove, minced
  • 5 to 6basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1cup orzo
  • 2cups/16 ounces tomato passata or purée
  • 1cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

356 calories; 17 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 33 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 19 grams protein; 473 milligrams sodium

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 1½ 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
587 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.

Dave

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

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.

Randa Reiff Shea

Thanks for the tip about the electric kettle. I followed the recipe but added greens from wild onions in my yard, spinach about to go bad from my frig, and extra basil from my straggling garden plants at step 2. Great! and I ate half all by myself.

Dave Pardoe

I don’t know why but this isn’t tasting right to me. Maybe it’s too late to use the basil from my garden - but it just kind of tastes floral and gummy. What am I doing wrong? (I’m actually a good cook!)

Krista

Started with pancetta, crisped it up, then used a slotted spoon to remove it to a paper towel lined plate. Cooked the onions in the pancetta fat and added the crispy pancetta as a topping at the end. Really good!

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