Minestra di pollo del mio Sansone della nonna (My Grandmother Sansone’s Chicken Soup)

I originally posted this recipe about a year ago. http://thisnthat-jennie.blogspot.com/2008/09/la-mi-nonna-sansone-minestra-di-pollo.html

With nearly half my church family and friends under the weather right now, I think it's a good time for a Re-Post!

In my Sansone family's traditional Christmas Feast, this was an appetizer, the First Course.

(As remembered by my uncle, Joe Sansone December 16, 2006)
I have simplified the instruction, took out the guess work and explained as best as possible what I do:

3 chicken breasts (You could use any pieces of chicken though)

3-4 Chicken bouillon cubes

5-6 cups Chicken stock (may use more or less later, depending on how "soupy" you want it to be)

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

2-3 Carrots, sliced

1 Onion, sliced

2-3 Celery, chopped

2-4 cups Soup greens (spinach, kale, or your favorite), chopped or torn

Salt & Pepper to taste

Other Italian soup spices (I use 2 tablespoons or so of dried oregano and parsley and a dash [or two or three] of red pepper flakes. You could use basil too)

½ cup uncooked Pastina (little pasta)

1-2 eggs



Boil chicken breast in 5-6 cups water, add bouillon cubes. Boil until tender. Remove chicken to cool, reserve chicken stock.


Add to the chicken stock: garlic, carrots, sliced onion, chopped celery, soup greens and a tablespoon of your spices and a dash of red pepper. Bring to low boil.


Add shredded chicken into the stock pot.


Cook together to a slow simmering low boil.


Add Pastina, into the soup; it becomes quite thick. You may add more water or chicken broth at this point to thin it down. Boil for 10-12 minutes or until Pastina is done. Add the remaining half of spices.


Just before serving, beat an egg or two and very slowly, with a fork, drip the eggs into the pot, a few drips at a time. This will poach into fine little egg drops.


After serving, add grated Pecorino Romano or Locatelli Romano Italian or grated Parmesan cheese to taste.


This is actually very easy and only takes about 30-45 minutes to prepare. The longer it sits, the better it gets! Drop me a note if you try it!

Buon Appetito!