5 Surprising Ways to Use ’Nduja: Exciting, Flavour-Packed Meals
Easy Nduja Recipe Ideas That'll Add Interest To Your Culinary Repertoire.
If you’ve ever browsed through our online deli, you’ve likely spotted that small, unassuming jar of 'Nduja Spicy Salami Spread. This Calabrian superstar is famous for its fiery kick and melt-in-the-mouth texture, usually found swirled into a penne or dolloped onto a crusty bruschetta.
Here at Carluccio's, we absolutely love this ingredient! But ’Nduja is far more versatile than just a pasta topper. It is a concentrated flavour bomb of chillies and cured pork that can transform almost any dish. If you’re looking to shake up your mid-week routine, here are five unconventional ways to use our authentic ’Nduja in your kitchen.
1. The Ultimate Spicy Roast Chicken
Forget plain lemon and thyme. Try loosening the skin of a whole chicken and rubbing a generous amount of 'Nduja directly onto the breast meat before roasting. Or stuff Nduja Butter under the skin.
As the chicken cooks, the fat from the ’Nduja renders out, basting the bird from the inside with smoky heat and staining the skin a gorgeous sunset orange. The resulting juices make for the most incredible spicy gravy you’ve ever tasted.
2. ’Nduja-Infused Seafood Stew
While ’Nduja is a meat product, it has a strange magic when paired with seafood. For a quick, flavour-packed meal, sauté some garlic and onions, add a spoonful of ’Nduja, and let it melt down.
Toss in a quality tin of tomatoes and some fresh mussels or prawns. The spicy pork fat cuts through the sweetness of the seafood perfectly, creating a rich, complex broth that feels like it’s been simmering for hours.
3. The Calabrian Breakfast Hash
If you want a breakfast that actually wakes you up, swap your usual bacon for fried cubes of potato and a dollop of ’Nduja. Fry the potatoes until crisp, then stir in the ’Nduja until it coats every piece.
Top with a fried egg; the richness of the runny yolk tempers the heat of the chilli, making for a balanced, punchy start to your Saturday.
4. Spicy Honey-Glazed Roasted Root Vegetables
This is the "sweet and heat" combination you didn’t know you needed. Whisk together a tablespoon of honey with a teaspoon of ’Nduja and a splash of olive oil.
Toss carrots, parsnips, or sweet potatoes in the mixture and roast until caramelised. The ’Nduja adds a savoury depth that stops the honey from being cloyingly sweet, turning a simple side dish into the star of the show.
5. Savoury ’Nduja and Cheese Scones
For the adventurous bakers, ’Nduja is a revelation in savoury pastry. Fold small nuggets of the spread into your favourite cheese scone dough.
Unlike hard chorizo, the ’Nduja melts into the dough as it bakes, creating pockets of intense spice and moisture. These are particularly brilliant served warm with a thick layer of salted butter—or even better, served alongside a bowl of tomato soup.
Ready to start experimenting?
You can find our authentic 'Nduja Spicy Salami Spread and other Italian essentials in the Carluccio’s online deli.
