🇮🇹 Italian · Main Dish
🌶️ 'Nduja e Peperoni
'Nduja e Peperoni
Calabria's fiery, spreadable spiced pork sausage melted into a pan of sweet peppers and tomatoes, creating a bold, richly spicy dish typical of the region's love for heat.
'Nduja is a soft, spreadable salami made from pork and an abundance of Calabrian chili, so intensely flavored that a small amount transforms an entire pan of vegetables into something deeply savory and properly fiery.
Ingredients
Equipment: Large sauté pan
- 150 g (5.3 oz) nduja
- 4 bell peppers, mixed colors, sliced
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 400 g (14 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- 60 ml (¼ cup) extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
- Salt, to taste
Method
- Warm the olive oil in a large pan and sauté the onion and peppers over medium heat until softened and starting to caramelize, about 12–15 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Crumble in the nduja and stir, letting it melt into the peppers and release its spiced fat.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the sauce thickens and everything is well combined.
- Season with salt, keeping in mind the nduja itself is quite salty.
- Finish with fresh basil or parsley and serve hot.
Chef Tips
- Let the peppers cook long enough to properly soften and sweeten before adding the nduja, building a good flavor base.
- 'Nduja varies significantly in heat between brands — taste as you go and adjust the quantity to your spice tolerance.
- This dish makes an excellent topping for bruschetta or a filling for a simple sandwich, beyond serving as a main.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding too much 'nduja without tasting first, resulting in an overwhelmingly spicy dish.
- Rushing the peppers, which need real time to soften and develop sweetness.
- Oversalting before tasting, given how much salt the 'nduja itself already contributes.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Peppers provide vitamin C; a good source of protein from the pork, best enjoyed in moderation given its richness and spice.
Cultural Note
'Nduja is a defining product of Calabria, a region known throughout Italy for its love of chili heat, and this dish showcases the spread in one of its simplest, most direct applications.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop.
Serve with: Crusty bread, Pasta, tossed through as a quick sauce, Polenta