You know when you’re hungry but the idea of cooking and actually having to deal with yourself and said hunger seems like SO much work that you feel like you might die? Not actually die, but being super hungry makes everyone melodramatic. You know what I mean. You feel me!
This dish is perfect for the moment I’m describing. It is the simplest of simple dishes. It’s cheap, CHEAP to make. Every poor college student should have this recipe in their repertoire. And it’s COZY. It’s sweater-weather soup.
If you’ve never heard of this soup, let’s discuss. Let’s gossip about this soup.
It’s an Italian egg-drop soup. Stracciatella is what you’d consider peasant food, only requiring a few ingredients in its purest form: water, Parmesan, spinach and egg. Of course, I think adding a bit of chicken broth, lemon juice and a teeny bit of pasta make it a bit more interesting and filling.
But really even this version you see is only slightly more complicated than the original. There’s nothing fussy about this soup, which is exactly what you want when you feel like you’re on your ‘hangry deathbed’.
I like to make this when nothing else exists in my kitchen. I usually always have pasta, eggs and water. Oh and black pepper–very important!
Ingredients
- *1/2 cup mini fussili pasta
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- Juice from 1/4 lemon
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan-Reggiano plus more for garnish
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1/2 cup fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Bring a medium saucepan filled with salted water to a boil. Add the fussilli and cook until very al dente, about 5-7 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- To the same (empty) saucepan (no need to clean it out), set over medium heat, combine the water, chicken broth and lemon juice. Bring the broth mixture to a simmer. Salt and pepper the broth to taste. I used very low-sodium broth so I had to add a pretty generous amount. Also, take note that Parmesan is salty so keep that in mind.
- Turn the heat to low. Just a heads up: the next few steps go very quickly so be sure to get ready. Mix in the finely grated Parmesan. Next, create whirlpool with a spoon in the broth. In one slow and steady stream, pour in the beaten egg. Mix in the fresh baby spinach and give it a good mix. You should see the eggs in little cooked bits. Add the reserved fussili pasta. Give it one last taste and adjust the salt according to taste.
- Divide amongst bowls. Garnish each serving with more black pepper and additional strips of Parmesan.
Notes
Nutrition
This looks like the perfect soup we need as my family fights off colds.
Beautiful photos! This looks like the perfect dinner for a cold and dreary night!
I’ve been craving soup for a while and this sounds like a great quick option! I just want to devour this.
This is pretty much all I need in life right now. Wake me when winter is over 🙂
So simple. So good. Adding an egg to your soup is everything.
Beautifully simple. Perfect for a busy weeknight, too!
This soup sounds so comforting! It reminds me of a soup my boyfriend loves to make- he makes tomato soup with mozzarella, but uses the water from the mozzarella to give it a saltier, cheesier flavour. We don’t have it often because my stomach doesn’t cope with dairy well, but I’m excited to save this soup for a special occasion (read: once in a while dairy occasion)!
This soup looks good, definitely trying it soon!
Yummy,
I so feel like that lately… to much baking and then the last thing I want to do it cook. Great soup!
You mean last night when it was almost 10 p.m. and I made myself a PB&J? Ha! Next time I’ll have to remember this soup. 🙂
Totally in agreement, being hangry is the worst. This soup looks delish and I love non-fussy recipes!
This looks fabulous! Definitely #onthemenu and pinned