Nduja pasta is a tomato-based pasta dish with the Italian salumi, nduja, a spreadable type of sausage that perfectly melds into any sauce when heated. It is special in the way it is spreadable, ideal for slathering on toasted bread, or, in this case, as a tasty sauce base. Mixed with homemade tomato sauce with notes of rosemary and garlic browned in butter, it adds a fiery flavour and deep, red colour as it combines with the sauce. Serve with al dente pasta, and you have delicious nduja pasta.

How to make nduja pasta?

Nduja pasta is simple yet irresistible. Start by making the sauce, sautéing onion in butter for a few minutes, then adding garlic and rosemary. Stir in tomato paste and nduja until combined, then add canned tomatoes, season, and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Then, add more butter and stir until it thickens. Boil pasta until al dente in salted water, add to the sauce with a bit of the pasta water, and serve garnished with parmesan and basil.

How to use nduja in pasta?

The best way to use nduja in pasta is with a delicious fresh sauce to complement its spiciness. You can let it sauté a little on a pan with, for example, butter, garlic, onion, or tomato paste. This will bring out its flavours before you add some sort of liquid like canned tomatoes, in which the nduja will blend perfectly. When using the classic Italian salumi, remember to consider how spicy you want your dish. It is known to have a bit of a kick, so, if you are not used to spicy sauces, start with a small amount, adding more until it is spicy enough. Use your senses cook. Taste it, feel it. Another thing to consider when using nduja in pasta is that it thickens the sauce, so, remember to save some of the pasta water to loosen it a bit.

What to serve with nduja pasta?

Nduja pasta is, with its thick, savoury tomato sauce, ideal for different side dishes. Serve it with a fresh green salad, choose to go with a fresh, slightly tangy vinaigrette, or cook up a dish with roasted vegetables. Go simple but great with oven-roasted vegetables or explore a different cuisine, whipping up a flavourful French ratatouille. Slices of bread are also always a good idea, the soft bread being ideal for soaking up leftover nduja pasta sauce. Enjoy!

NDUJA & TOMATO PASTA

45 mins cooking time

Grab your apron and embark on a journey to Italy with this spicy nduja pasta. Savour the flavours of Italian cuisine with the classic nduja salumi, rich tomato sauce, and perfect al dente pasta garnished with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. Rustle up, dig in, and enjoy.

NDUJA & TOMATO PASTA

45 mins cooking time

Cook mode

Method

Melt half the butter over medium heat in a deep-sided frying pan. Add onions and sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and rosemary and sauté for a few minutes without the garlic browning. Stir in tomato paste and nduja and let it cook for a few minutes, stirring continuously until well combined.

When frying the garlic in butter, be careful not to let it brown as it can bring out a bitter flavour.

Add canned tomatoes and season with salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the rest of the butter and stir until the butter has evaporated. The sauce should be thick.

Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and boil for 8-10 minutes or until just al dente. Drain, reserving some of the pasta water.

This nduja pasta recipe is quite simple. And a simple Italian dish means that attention to detail makes all the difference. Keep your eyes and senses sharp, cook. Cooking the pasta correctly is one of the most important details. Always cook it in plenty of water for it to cook evenly and remember plenty of salt. Serve it al dente so it has a little bite.

Add pasta and a little pasta water to the sauce. If you need to loosen the sauce, add more pasta water.

Serve right away with Parmesan and fresh basil on top.

Grate parmesan just before serving to elevate the nduja pasta sauce; it enhances that irresistible, salty flavour. And remember, butter is your best friend in this recipe. If the sauce is too runny, add a little butter.

Good Food doesn’t have to be perfect. But was this a winning recipe for you, cook?

Everything about NDUJA & TOMATO PASTA

Nduja pasta is a tomato-based pasta dish with the Italian salumi, nduja, a spreadable type of sausage that perfectly melds into any sauce when heated. It is special in the way it is spreadable, ideal for slathering on toasted bread, or, in this case, as a tasty sauce base. Mixed with homemade tomato sauce with notes of rosemary and garlic browned in butter, it adds a fiery flavour and deep, red colour as it combines with the sauce. Serve with al dente pasta, and you have delicious nduja pasta.
Nduja pasta is simple yet irresistible. Start by making the sauce, sautéing onion in butter for a few minutes, then adding garlic and rosemary. Stir in tomato paste and nduja until combined, then add canned tomatoes, season, and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Then, add more butter and stir until it thickens. Boil pasta until al dente in salted water, add to the sauce with a bit of the pasta water, and serve garnished with parmesan and basil.
The best way to use nduja in pasta is with a delicious fresh sauce to complement its spiciness. You can let it sauté a little on a pan with, for example, butter, garlic, onion, or tomato paste. This will bring out its flavours before you add some sort of liquid like canned tomatoes, in which the nduja will blend perfectly. When using the classic Italian salumi, remember to consider how spicy you want your dish. It is known to have a bit of a kick, so, if you are not used to spicy sauces, start with a small amount, adding more until it is spicy enough. Use your senses cook. Taste it, feel it. Another thing to consider when using nduja in pasta is that it thickens the sauce, so, remember to save some of the pasta water to loosen it a bit.
Nduja pasta is, with its thick, savoury tomato sauce, ideal for different side dishes. Serve it with a fresh green salad, choose to go with a fresh, slightly tangy vinaigrette, or cook up a dish with roasted vegetables. Go simple but great with oven-roasted vegetables or explore a different cuisine, whipping up a flavourful French ratatouille. Slices of bread are also always a good idea, the soft bread being ideal for soaking up leftover nduja pasta sauce. Enjoy!

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