Finding a balance between nutritional value and preparation speed is a primary challenge for parents managing tight evening schedules. In a feature on quick dinner solutions for busy parents, NYT Cooking highlights the Creamy Cabbage Pastina, a recipe by Samantha Seneviratne that modifies a traditional Italian comfort dish to include hidden vegetables.
Pastina is characterized as a simple Italian dish consisting of tiny pasta stars, chicken broth, egg yolks, and Parmesan cheese. The dish is described as a fortifying and comforting meal that functions as a slurpable supper, taking only a few minutes to prepare.
I could eat pastina, the simple Italian dish made from tiny pasta stars, chicken broth, egg yolks and Parmesan, every day. (In fact, I’ve gone on weeklong pastina benders when I’ve been deep in work and unwilling to go to the grocery store.) It’s fortifying, comforting and tastes like a hug. Samantha Seneviratne
Integrating Nutrients into Comfort Food
While traditional pastina lacks vegetables, the Creamy Cabbage Pastina introduces shredded cabbage to increase the nutrient profile of the meal. This addition is intended to provide flavor and health benefits without signaling the presence of vegetables to children who may be difficult to feed.
When simmered with the pasta, the cabbage becomes meltingly tender. This process creates a mild sweetness that complements the butter and cheese in the recipe.
Recipe Components and Preparation
The recipe yields two servings and utilizes a combination of pantry staples and fresh produce. The necessary ingredients include:
- 2¼ cups of chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 packed cups (6 ounces) of shredded cabbage, either thinly sliced with a knife or store-bought preshredded
- ½ cup of pastina pasta
- ½ cup of grated Parmesan
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1 teaspoon of freshly grated lemon zest from one lemon
- Salt and black pepper
The preparation begins by bringing the chicken or vegetable broth to a simmer over medium-high heat in a medium pot. The shredded cabbage is added and cooked, stirring occasionally, for three to five minutes until it reaches a tender consistency.
Following the cabbage preparation, the pastina is added to the pot to simmer. The final dish is finished with the integration of butter, Parmesan, egg, and lemon zest to create the creamy texture characteristic of the meal.
Visual Presentation
The presentation of the Creamy Cabbage Pastina was captured by photographer Ryan Liebe. The visual styling of the dish was managed by food stylist Monica Pierini and prop stylist Megan Hedgpeth.