'Nduja facts for kids
'Nduja (say it like "en-DOO-yah") is a super spicy, soft sausage from a region in Southern Italy called Calabria. It's made from pork and is so soft you can spread it like butter!
It's a bit like a Spanish sausage called sobrassada and also similar to a French sausage called andouille. 'Nduja is Calabria's special kind of salumi, which is a general name for cured meats in Italy. It first came from a small town in Calabria called Spilinga.
What is 'Nduja Made Of?
'Nduja is made from different parts of a pig. This includes meat from the head (but not the cheeks), extra bits from other meat cuts, some clean skin, and fat. The most important ingredient for its famous kick is roasted Calabrian chilli peppers!
All these ingredients are chopped up very finely and mixed together. Then, this spicy mix is put into large sausage casings. After that, it's smoked, which helps it become a soft, large sausage.
How to Enjoy 'Nduja
Because 'Nduja is so soft, you usually scoop it out of its casing. It's often served simply with slices of fresh bread or with tasty, ripe cheese.
Its unique and fiery flavor makes it great for cooking too! You can add it to pasta sauces to make them spicy and rich. It's sold in jars or as thick slices from the soft sausage itself. Long ago, 'Nduja was a way for poorer people in Southern Italy to use up all parts of the meat.
'Nduja's Rise to Fame
Around 2015 and 2016, 'Nduja became super popular in the United States and the United Kingdom. Many famous restaurants, like The Spotted Pig in New York City and Temple and Sons in London, started using it in their dishes. This helped introduce its unique taste to many more people around the world!
See also
In Spanish: 'Nduja para niños
