This is a glossy, cheesy super savoury and satisfying sauce that you can pair with any pasta shape you like. Nduja is one of those foods that is on trend and popping up in so many restaurants, but for good reason, it is so delicious! It gives a smokey and slight chilli hum to a traditional mac n cheese style sauce and then topped with toasty panko crumbs - perfection!
What is nduja?
Quite simply nduja is a slightly spicy spreadable pork sausage from Southern Italy. I buy mine in a jar and you should be able to find it at most specialty food stores. I add a couple of tablespoons to this sauce and you will see it transform before your eyes. Don't be put off by the fact it has chilli in it, if you don't like spice just add a bit less. It is more of a gentle hum that a hot spice. Add it to any dish to give a boost of flavour, casseroles, ragus and pizza will all benefit from this secret weapon.
Tips for Nduja Mac and Cheese
- You can use any pasta shape you like I tend to serve abut 80 - 100g pasta per person. I highly recommend trying it out with some hand rolled gnocchi sardi, it's so easy to make and you don't need any equipment.
- When you add the milk and get the sauce bubbling, make sure you lower the temp before you add the cheese, I have it on quite a low heat when adding the cheese and nduja in.
- You can add more or less nduja than what I have specified, just do it to your own taste!
- Watch the panko crumbs closely when you are toasting them, they can catch and burn quite quickly.
Making the gnocchi sardi
Any shape will work for this sauce but check out my recipe for hand rolled gnocchi sardi. It is one of the easiest pasta shapes to make and is relatively quick too. It is made from a durum wheat which gives a fantastic chew which I love! This shape is also perfect with any of my butter sauces.
Nduja Mac and Cheese
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 - 3 people
Description
This is a glossy, cheesy super savoury and satisfying sauce that you can pair with any pasta shape you like.
Ingredients
For the breadcrumbs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or any breadcrumbs you like)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- A few sprigs of rosemary and thyme, leaves picked and roughly chopped
For the sauce
- 110g grated cheddar (I used a sharp one but anything you like will work)
- 45g parmesan, finely grated
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1.5 - 2 tbsp nduja paste (add more if you want it stronger)
- Pepper
Instructions
Breadcrumbs
Toast the breadcrumbs in the oil in a frypan until golden then take off the heat and add in the fresh herbs. Set aside until serving.
Sauce
- Over medium - high heat, melt the butter in a medium saucepan then add the flour and whisk into a paste for a minute to cook the flour off.
- Add the milk gradually whisking vigorously to incorporate, making sure you are getting the flour paste from the bottom and sides of the pan.
- Continue to cook, whisking until it begins to simmer then turn the heat down to low before adding the cheese in three lots, whisking in between each lot making sure it has melted in before adding the next.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the nduja paste. Taste for seasoning, it shouldn't need much salt but add a few big cracks of black pepper.
You can cook your pasta at the same time then just add it straight into the sauce with a splash of pasta water (¼ cup is a good guide). If you make the sauce first pop a layer of cling film directly over the surface of the sauce to stop a skin forming while you cook your pasta. Gently reheat the sauce then add the pasta in with the pasta water. Either way let the pasta hang out in the sauce for a minute before serving.
Divide between plates, top with the herby panko crumbs and enjoy!
Notes
- This serves 2 - 3 but it is easy to double if you want to make more
- It will keep in the fridge for 3 days but it really is best eaten fresh
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
Dave says
This is INSANELY DELICIOUS! The Nduja adds such a wonderful burst of flavour whilst maintaining all of the joys and comfort of the best Mac n Cheese you could ever eat.
★★★★★
Emilie Pullar says
So glad you enjoyed!!
Tiffany says
So simple to make and full of flavor. I will be adding this recipe to my book of make agains!
★★★★★
Emilie Pullar says
Thanks so much Tiffany!! xx
Jess P says
This is absolutely delicious! Such an easy recipe to make and so flavourful. Will definitely be making it again!
★★★★★
Emilie Pullar says
Hi Jess, so glad you enjoyed it. Such a quick and easy one 🙂
DeeAnn says
Comfort food at it’s best! Gnocci is simple to prepare and the Nduja sauce is so creamy and delicious!
★★★★★
Emilie Pullar says
Yay so glad you enjoyed! 🙂
Raeoni says
Hadn’t even heard of njuda before seeing this recipe on the BBT insta. I hunted some down in the small-goods hall at the Queen Vic Market (Melbourne). This recipe has become a go-to for when I’m feeling lazy but I still want to impress. The recs on a bitey cheddar really sets this apart. Deliciousness.
★★★★★
Emilie Pullar says
So glad you managed to find some nduja!! Game changer!
Paul says
WOW!!! Great flavour, this will be my go to Mac & Cheese from now on. The Nduja takes this dish up a level adding an incredible flavour.
Emilie Pullar says
I am so obsessed with nduja! It makes everything better! Thanks so much for making it Paul 🙂
Dora says
Amazingly easy recipe and can be used with other types of spreadable pork sausages. I had this recipe in my favorites for months (like basically all your recipes... :D) while I tried to find Nduja in Brazil, which sadly is non-existent. Gave it a try with Nduja's Spanish and paprika based cousin - sobrasada de mallorca - just replacing the Nduja with the same quantities and it was soooo good.
★★★★★
Emilie Pullar says
This is such a great tip! Thanks so much for making it!