How to add an icon to a list item?

ionic-v1
1

Have tried various options but cannot get an icon in a list item to look normal/professional and not misaligned.

Attempts:

<ion-item class="icon ion-star">Text</ion-item>
<ion-item class="item-icon-left icon ion-star">Text</ion-item>
<ion-item class="item-icon-left"><i class="icon ion-star"/>Text</ion-item>
<ion-item class="item-icon-left"><i class="icon ion-star">Text</i></ion-item>

Feel sure this must be possible without any custom CSS.