Description
Spicy sausage nduja pasta ignites Italian culinary passion with its bold, fiery flavors. Rich, creamy sauce melds perfectly with al dente pasta, promising a quick and irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) Italian sausage, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) nduja (spicy spreadable pork sausage)
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (rigatoni, penne, or spaghetti)
- 1 can (14 ounces/400 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Finishing and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a generously salted pot of water to rolling boil and immerse pasta, cooking until perfectly tender with slight resistance. Carefully extract 1/2 cup cooking liquid before straining.
- Warm olive oil in expansive skillet over moderate temperature. Gently soften diced onions and minced garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce crumbled Italian sausage into pan, searing until golden brown and developing rich caramelized edges. Incorporate nduja, stirring consistently for approximately 2 minutes to distribute spicy, spreadable meat.
- Stream crushed tomatoes into skillet, seasoning with salt, cracked black pepper, and fiery red pepper flakes. Allow mixture to gently simmer and reduce for 10 minutes, concentrating flavors.
- Swirl heavy cream into sauce, creating luxurious texture. Fold in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until smoothly integrated. Toss cooked pasta into mixture, ensuring complete coating. Adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped basil or parsley across surface. Transfer immediately to warmed serving plates and present piping hot for maximum enjoyment.
Notes
- Nduja’s spicy intensity can overwhelm delicate palates, so start with less and adjust to taste.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or half-and-half to reduce calories.
- Gluten-free pasta works perfectly for those with wheat sensitivities, maintaining the dish’s rich flavor profile.
- Vegetarian adaptation possible by replacing sausage with crumbled plant-based meat or mushrooms for similar texture and umami depth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 522 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg