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

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.

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.

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.

Questions about pasta with nduja

Looking for an Italian classic with a spicy kick? Then keep reading below to find out more about our spicy nduja pasta recipe from its rich tomato sauce to its perfectly al dente pasta.

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Savour a spicy nduja pasta with homemade tomato sauce

This, cook, is your cue to cook up something truly irresistible. This is our recipe for nduja pasta with homemade tomato sauce. With a classic base of flavourful, bold tomato, nduja takes the sauce to another level with its spicy, intense, meaty flavour. As the sauce gently simmers, the nduja melts into it, creating a harmonious mix of flavours.

But it is not only about the taste. Experience the smooth, velvety texture that clings to the pasta, ensuring a burst of warm and spicy flavour in each bite. And, with the butter added in the end, you are in for a real treat with this nduja pasta in both texture and flavour. Butter will make each mouthful deliciously creamy and luxurious. It melts, emulsifies, and blends, giving you a nduja pasta sauce with a smooth, thick consistency, perfect for coating the al dente pasta.

Nduja − the spicy, spreadable Italian pork salumi

Nduja is a special type of salumi. If you love ingredients that give you bold flavours and spicy dishes, you are guaranteed to love this Italian salumi. It is spreadable and smooth like a very soft pâté, perfect for spreading on bread, putting on pizza, or melting in a savoury sauce as we do in this nduja pasta recipe. It has a rich pork flavour, concentrated by the fermentation and smoking process, which is what makes this delicious salumi so special. It gets its spicy notes from the addition of Calabrian chilli pepper, which also helps make the texture smoother. Cook up a batch of pasta with nduja and enjoy its spicy, smoky, and salty flavour for a true taste of Italy.

Cook up delicious pasta with nduja and serve for guests and family

Pasta is always ideal for serving guests and family, and this recipe is bound to become a favourite. So, when you decide to whip up this delicious nduja pasta recipe, remember to serve with the perfect side dish. Chop, sauté, and fry your way to a complete meal, choosing sides that will complement the main dish. Classics are thick slices of bread, perfect for scooping up remaining sauce from the plate, or a light, green salad.

Although a member of French cuisine, you can also consider serving your Italian nduja pasta with a decadent butter ratatouille. Ratatouille is bursting with various vegetables, adding beautiful colours and a savoury touch that perfectly balances and complements the rich and spicy nduja pasta sauce. Or, whip up a batch of oven-roasted thyme and garlic vegetables to serve vegetables in a slightly different way.

Put your mark on an Italian classic

If anything, bright and red homemade tomato sauce is truly Italian. And as this is made with spicy nduja salumi, the taste is special. So, put your mark on it. Add sautéed mushrooms or wilted spinach to complement the flavours of the salumi and rich tomato sauce. Experiment with adding some more spice with a touch of red pepper flakes or chilli flakes. Enhance the flavours with other herbs like parsley, oregano, or thyme, to add a fresh touch with new layers of aroma and flavour. Either sprinkle them on top together with the basil and parmesan or add them when the sauce is simmering.

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