GRAND VOYAGE ITALY
  • Piazza
    • Older Posts
  • Travel
    • Our Family's Voyage
  • Cucina
  • Culture
  • History
  • Style
  • Photos
  • Videos
    • Music Videos
  • About
    • Survey
    • Links
  • Shop 🛒
  • Piazza
    • Older Posts
  • Travel
    • Our Family's Voyage
  • Cucina
  • Culture
  • History
  • Style
  • Photos
  • Videos
    • Music Videos
  • About
    • Survey
    • Links
  • Shop 🛒
We're All About Italy

Italian Cuisine: Nudge, Nudge... Say No More about 'Nduja

9/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
PictureAuthentic 'Nduja in Calabria
It's pronounced "un-DU-ya". But what is it?

‘Nduja of Spilinga is a spreadable, cured sausage meat spread... made with pork, salt, herbs and the ever-so-hot Calabrian chili pepper. This is a pretty spicy spread. Keep the water and milk handy! 

'Nduja was first made by farmers looking for ways to use the lesser parts of a pig. The name ‘Nduja comes from the French word andouille that means sausage.  'Nduja originates from the town of Vibo Valentia in south eastern Calabria, but is now made throughout the region. 

According to some historians it was introduced by the Spanish in the 1500s and made using their traditional paprika, but as its name come from the French word “andouille”, it might be a descendant  of a very similar French sausage that came to Italy during the time of Napoleon around 1806-1815.

Every May 8th, the town of Vibo Valentia hosts their oldest festival in honor of ‘Nduja, a fantastic, folky, gastronomic experience were the town celebrates this ingredient by preparing many different dishes with it. Voyagers will find food stalls offering traditional dishes and all sort of products that utilize ‘Nduja. There are many celebrations around the town and in the Piazza the heat comes to a head with the “U Camijuzzu i Focu” (camel of fire), a traditional dance. Just make sure you know where the water fountains are.

‘Nduja is commonly eaten as a bruschetta--spread over bread--or used in recipes. Because it's a spread, the flavors will melt into a sauce when added to a saute pan. You can use it to bring it up a notch (as a famous chef used to say) by adding to your Texas chili, as a pizza topping, to soups and stews, as a spread on top of a steak, to make a fiery Pasta Bolognese, a spicy Arrabbiata tomato sauce, in a Sunday Gravy and much more. It's best to test small amounts of 'Nduja before eating it as a spread or adding to your own recipes.

Picture
Dollops of 'Nduja on pizza... hotter than pepperoni!
PictureFigs stuffed with 'Nduja
'Nduja is becoming more and more popular in the Foodie world every since a London pizzeria chain started using it on their pizzas. Nowadays, there are lots of top chefs using it in their recipes. There are many imitators but you can still find the real thing imported directly from Calabria or other parts of Southern Italy.  The next time you’re in your favorite Italian deli, look for it... but ask if it's the real Calabrian ‘Nduja or just a cheaper version. And believe it or not, you can actually find it on Amazon...

Enjoy!

--Jerry Finzi

'Nduja on Amazon
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    1 Making Plans
    2 Gear And Tips
    3 Getting Around
    4 Tuscany
    5 Amalfi Coast
    6 Basilicata
    7 Puglia
    8 Rome
    9 Postcards
    Fotos Di Finzi
    History For Italians
    Humor
    La Cucina & Recipes
    More Than Gelato Pizza
    More-than-gelato-pizza
    News Del Giiorno
    Off The Tourist Path

    Archive

    January 2021
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2014 - 2022 by GrandVoyageItaly.com
Picture
  • Piazza
    • Older Posts
  • Travel
    • Our Family's Voyage
  • Cucina
  • Culture
  • History
  • Style
  • Photos
  • Videos
    • Music Videos
  • About
    • Survey
    • Links
  • Shop 🛒