Spicy Nduja Pasta Sauce (2024)

Looking for a new twist to your traditional pasta dish? Try out this Spicy Nduja Pasta Sauce to add some heat and depth to your next dinner!

Are you looking for a quick and easy pasta recipe that packs a punch of flavour? Look no further than this spicy nduja pasta sauce!

Nduja is the star ingredient of this sauce, and it adds an intense and delicious heat to the dish. This dish is perfect for those who love a bit of spice, ( as are these & this creamy gochujang pasta) but don’t be put off if you are not, as it is easy to adjust the heat level too! If you really don’t like spice or are cooking for small children you may prefer my tomato pasta sauce with hidden vegetables or dairy free spaghetti carbonara.

It’s simple to make and can be whipped up in under 30 minutes, making it an ideal weeknight dinner option. This pasta dish is also dairy free and can easily be adapted to be gluten free too!

Plus, who doesn't love a big bowl of comforting pasta on a chilly evening? Get ready to satisfy your taste buds and spice up your pasta game with a delicious sauce packed full of flavour.

Serve alongside my Dairy Free Garlic Bread.

⭐ If you are looking for more dairy-free dinner inspiration download my FREE 7 Dairy-Free Dinners E-Book! ⭐

🤔 What Exactly is Nduja?

Nduja is a spicy, spreadable salami that hails from the Calabria region of Italy. And let me tell you, it packs a punch!

It is made from pork, spicy peppers, and a whole lot of love. The meat is ground up and mixed with hot chilli peppers, giving it it’s signature fiery flavour. The mixture is then stuffed into a casing and aged for a few months, allowing the flavours to meld together and intensify.

You can buy it like this or alternatively in a jar. It’s perfect for smearing on crusty bread or adding a kick to your pasta sauce.

🥘 Ingredients You Will Need & Notes

✋ Be sure to double check all packaging for allergens. ✋

• Nduja - This spreadable salami is the star of the show in this pasta sauce. You can buy Nduja at most major supermarkets (The bigger Tesco, Sainsbury's & Waitrose stores all seem to stock it) and any Italian Deli. You can either buy Nduja in a packet like this or in a jar.
• Mushrooms - I would recommend using chestnut mushrooms as they have a slightly stronger flavour than white mushrooms.
• Tinned Tomatoes - Try and buy the best quality chopped tomatoes that you can. My two favourite brands of chopped tomatoes are Napolina & Cirio.
• Basil - Fresh basil is delicious sprinkled through the sauce. If you only have dried you can use this instead but I would really recommend fresh basil if you can. If you are using dried basil, one teaspoon will be all you need.
• Pasta - A thick tubular pasta works best in this recipe, as the sauce clings to the crevices & ridges of the pasta tubes, I have used penne, but rigatoni, or tubettini also work really well. Don’t sweat it though, if you only have spaghetti, use that, you will still have a delicious bowl of pasta!

✏️ How to Make Spicy Nduja Pasta Sauce

⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️

Start by preparing and chopping all your ingredients. Dice the onion into small chunks, crush the garlic and slice the mushrooms.

Then heat up some olive oil in a large saucepan or frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add in the diced onion, cooking until the onion is soft and translucent.

Next, it's time to add the star of the show - the nduja! Use a wooden spoon to break up the nduja and add it to the pan, along with the garlic, stirring constantly until it's melted and mixed in with the onion.

Then add the mushrooms and cook for a further couple of minutes until they have softened too.

Now, it's time to add some chopped tomatoes to the mix. Stir in a can of crushed tomatoes, a pinch of salt, and the chilli flakes, if you are using for extra heat. Let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the flavours meld together.

Whilst the sauce is simmering, cook your pasta according to package instructions. When cooked, drain and add it directly to the saucepan with the sauce. Don’t forget to reserve a cup of pasta water and add a few tablespoons to the sauce. (See tips & tricks below)

See Also

Fast and delicious creamy nduja pasta sauce - The Burnt Butter TableNduja Pasta Recipe (Authentic Calabrese Pasta!)Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, Primary Care - East Brighton | Family Medicine, Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Behavioral Health - Collaborative Care in BrightonDelicious Tomato Nduja Pasta (pasta con nduja) - The Burnt Butter Table

Toss everything together until the pasta is coated in the spicy nduja tomato sauce.

Garnish with some roughly chopped fresh basil for an extra pop of flavour and colour.

💡 Tips & Tricks

• Don’t forget to save a cup of the pasta water! This stuff is like liquid gold. It helps add flavour to your sauce, but also and more importantly the starch in the water helps the sauce cling to the pasta, so always add a few tablespoons to your sauce!
• It helps to prepare all your ingredients before you start cooking, as this dish cooks quickly once you start.
• Add a couple of grinds of sea salt to the pasta water if you are not cooking for small children. The salted water give an added depth of flavour.

⚡ Substitutions & Variations

• Nduja - This is the main ingredient in the dish, but if you can’t get hold of any nduja, you could use chorizo sausage and finely dice it. It won’t be exactly the same but will be as close as you could get!
• Gluten Free - Nduja is naturally gluten free, so the only ingredient containing gluten in this recipe is the pasta. Simply swap the pasta for a gluten free version and you have a gorgeous gluten free dinner.
• Less Heat? - If you are not a big fan of spicy pasta or are cooking the dish for young children, leave out the chilli flakes and reduce the amount of Nduja used by a third for a milder flavour. Those who do love the heat can always sprinkle fresh chilli or chilli flakes on the top of their own pasta after cooking.

🥡 How To Store Leftovers

If you have any leftovers they will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

You can easily re-heat the pasta in the microwave for a few minutes until piping hot. I love putting the pasta in a Thermos Food Flask for a tasty lunch on the go.

You can freeze in individual freezer safe tubs for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat, simply defrost in the fridge overnight and re-heat as above.

You can also freeze the sauce on its own in a freezer safe container and defrost in the fridge overnight, then either re-heat in the microwave or slowly on the hob in a saucepan until piping hot.

💬 FAQ

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