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Home ยป Products & Ingredients ยป Gluten-Free Pastina is Here!

Gluten-Free Pastina is Here!

Last Updated May 5, 2023. Published May 2, 2023 Good For You Gluten Free

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Gluten-Free Pastina is Here!
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Pastina recipes are taking TikTok by storm, but the gluten-free community couldn’t participate in this viral trend because there wasn’t a gluten-free pastina option … until now! Learn about this classic Italian pasta shape and where you can now find a gluten-free version. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.

If you’re active on social media, you’ve probably seen videos of people preparing pastina meals with Ronzoni. Unfortunately, Ronzoni doesn’t make gluten-free pastina, and much to the surprise of its beloved fans, the brand announced its discontinuation late last year.

If you’re new to pastina, it’s a small Italian pasta often used in soups or broths. It comes in various shapes, including stars, alphabet letters, and small tubes. The name “pastina” even means “little pasta” in Italian.

Like most pasta, pastina is made almost exclusively from wheat, but Jovial, a brand known for its delicious gluten-free brown rice pasta, has come out with a tiny star-shaped gluten-free pastina, and I wanted to be one of the first to try it!

box of jovial foods gluten-free stelline pastina

The pastina is called stelline pasta, which means “little stars” in Italian. It’s made from organic brown rice flour and water and is oh-so-adorable!

close up on star-shaped stelline pasta

While pastina is traditionally added to soups, broths, or stews for a comforting and hearty meal, it can also be cooked and served as a simple side dish topped with butter or olive oil and grated cheese.

However, in recent years, TikTok videos of people making creamy and cheesy pastina, which they call “Italian penicillin,” has gone viral.

I ordered a box of Jovial stelline pasta as soon as I spotted it online. Within days of receiving it, I decided to try my hand at making a gluten-free version of the famous TikTok pastina recipe.

Testing Gluten-Free Pastina

The viral Tiktok version of pastina looks like a creamy and cheesy bowl of porridge. It looked like a comforting bowl of mac and cheese made with tiny star-shaped pasta.

Here’s what I used to make the trending pastina dish:

  • 2 cups of broth (more if needed)
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free stelline pasta from Jovial
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1-2 tbsp of butter
  • 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, shredded
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

To make it, start by bringing the broth to a boil, then adding the stelline pasta. Cook the pasta at a rolling boil until much of the broth is absorbed by the pastina and the pastina is soft. If needed, add more broth to get the just-right texture.

Remove the cooked pastina from the heat, then add a beaten egg and whisk so it incorporates without scrambling. This will give the pastina a creamy texture.

Next, add the butter, cheese, salt, and pepper, and mix until you have a creamy, porridge-like consistency.

Add additional shredded parmesan or chopped parsley on top (optional), and enjoy.

creamy cheesy pastina in a pan

Remember, you can make pastina how you like it. It’s a versatile pasta and can be used in a variety of ways. Below are a few suggestions:

  • If you don’t like parmesan, use asiago, pecorino romano, or any cheese your heart desires.
  • Some people add lemon zest on top for a citrusy surprise.
  • If you don’t like the cheesy TikTok version, cook the stelline pasta as directed on the package and top it with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and S&P for a simple yet tasty dish.
  • Pastina is also the perfect addition to any soup recipe. Kids especially love it!

Where to Buy Gluten-Free Pastina

As of May 2023, Jovial’s gluten-free stelline pasta is available online. It will be available in Whole Foods in June 2023, and more retailers will carry the unique pasta shape by 2024.

All gluten-free varieties of Jovial pasta are certified gluten-free by the GFCO and hand-crafted on dedicated gluten-free equipment in Italy. The stelline pasta is Non-GMO verified, glyphosate-free, and kosher.

bowl of cheesy gluten-free pastina based on tiktok trend

Another company that makes gluten-free pastina is Le Veneziane. The Italian-based company uses 100 percent pre-cooked corn flour to make its tiny tube-shaped pastina.

Le Veneziane gluten-free pastina box

While I think brown rice offers a better texture than corn flour in general, I haven’t tried Le Veneziane pastina, so I don’t know if it’s good. However, I wanted to include Le Veneziane in this article because it offers small tube-shaped ditalini pasta, which I haven’t seen anywhere before.

While you can substitute gluten-free orzo or even break linguine noodles into small pieces to create tiny pasta pieces, it’s best to use the pastina shapes available for the best result.

Additional Reading

  • How to Make Gluten-Free Pasta With Two Ingredients!
  • Quinoa Pasta Salad with Lemon Dill Vinaigrette
  • Jovial Vegan Mac Produced on Shared Equipment with Wheat; CEO Defends Product
  • Best Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese Brands โ€“ Nima Tested

Gluten-Free TikTok Pastina

Looking for a comforting and delicious pasta dish? You'll love making the viral TikTok pastina recipe, which can finally be made gluten-free thanks to Jovial stelline pasta.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: gluten-free pastina, pastina, stelline pasta
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 344kcal
Author: Jenny Levine Finke

Equipment

  • 1 medium pot

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth more if needed
  • 1/2 cup Jovial gluten-free stelline pasta
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1-2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shredded
  • salt to taste
  • fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Bring the broth to a boil over high heat, then add the stelline pasta. Reduce the heat to medium-high, and cook the pasta over a rolling boil until most of the broth is absorbed by the pastina and the pastina is soft. If needed, add more broth to get the just-right texture.
  • Remove the pastina from the heat, then add a beaten egg and whisk while adding so it incorporates without scrambling.
  • Add the butter, cheese, salt, and pepper, and mix until you have a creamy, porridge-like consistency.
  • Add additional shredded parmesan on top (optional) or chopped parsley (optional). Enjoy immediately.

Notes

Nutrition information is estimated.
While you can substitute gluten-free orzo or even break linguine noodles into small pieces to create tiny pasta pieces, it’s wise to use the pastina shapes available for the best result.
You can find Jovial brown rice stelline pasta on the Jovial website. It will also be available in Whole Foods starting June 2023.

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 1349mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 494IU | Calcium: 319mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @GoodForYouGlutenFree or tag #goodforyouglutenfree!

Filed Under: Pasta, Products & Ingredients 6 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LaurenRoyal says

    May 6, 2023 at 6:25 pm

    I agree that Le Veneziane is the best! They make a lot of shapes, and taste just like normal wheat pastaโ€”my guests never have a clue Iโ€™ve served them GF pasta. Vitacost.com has the best prices for it Iโ€™ve found.

  2. Christina Davey says

    May 5, 2023 at 11:36 am

    Hi Jenny!
    Writing from west coast of Canada where I purchase gluten free pasta from the Italian company Rummo. Itโ€™s excellent and has many varieties including stellini and lentil and chickpea pastas. Most stores that carry it seem to have spaghetti and penne or rotini but the shop near me carries more varieties which Iโ€™m so grateful for!
    Thanks for all the work you do for the gf community – really appreciate it!
    Christina
    PS – wish your contests were open to Canadians too!

  3. Mare says

    May 5, 2023 at 9:59 am

    Hi Jenny – typo: Ronzoni (not Ronzoni)

  4. Meg Mayo Lucas says

    May 2, 2023 at 8:35 pm

    Le Veneziane pasta, in general, is THE BEST! Start with the penne. I usually cook it, and then let it steam for a few minutes, in a strainer, hanging in the pot over some of the cooking water. It’s like “real” pasta! If you haven’t tried it yet, you should. I find that Amazon is a good source.

  5. Good For You Gluten Free says

    May 2, 2023 at 2:30 pm

    The pasta is made on dedicated lines in a dedicated facility and is certified GF. Jovial pasta is a brand I trust.

  6. Lisa Driskill says

    May 2, 2023 at 11:40 am

    Do you trust this brand in light of all the negative publicity?

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Hi, I'm Jenny Levine Finke and am passionate about the gluten-free lifestyle. I'm a certified integrative nutrition coach and self-taught expert on [most] gluten-free things. I have celiac disease and know the struggles you're going through first-hand. This is why I've dedicated this blog to serving the celiac and gluten sensitive communities with important information, product and restaurant reviews, and simple recipes I hope you'll love. Read Moreโ€ฆ

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