Description
This Sausage Nduja Pasta combines crispy pork sausages with a creamy, smoky nduja and mascarpone tomato sauce, perfectly tossed with orecchiette pasta. The dish is finished with fresh basil and plenty of Parmesan for a rich, flavorful Italian-inspired meal that comes together quickly and easily on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Sauce
- 6 good quality pork sausages (casings removed)
- Olive oil, for frying
- 300 g cherry tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp nduja paste
- 125 g mascarpone
- Fresh basil leaves
Pasta
- 400 g pasta (orecchiette recommended)
- Salt, for pasta water
- Pepper, to taste
- Parmesan cheese, for grating
Instructions
- Prepare the Sausages: In a pan over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil, add the pork sausages with casings removed. Break the sausages apart into small pieces using a wooden spoon. To remove casings easily, score the sausage skin with a knife and pull away, preferably chilled for ease. Fry the sausage pieces until they are deep golden brown and completely crisp, about 10-15 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: Once the sausage is crisp, add the cherry tomatoes, tomato paste, and nduja paste to the pan. Stir well and cook for a few minutes. Then add a splash of water and let the mixture bubble gently for 10 minutes, pressing the tomatoes against the pan with the back of the wooden spoon to encourage bursting and forming a rich sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of well-seasoned water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Finish the Sauce: Stir the mascarpone and fresh basil leaves into the tomato and sausage sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to create a smooth, silky sauce with a luxurious creamy texture.
- Toss Pasta and Serve: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce along with grated Parmesan and additional fresh basil. Stir together gently, adding more pasta water if necessary, to ensure the pasta is coated in a luscious sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Plate and Enjoy: Serve the pasta in bowls with extra Parmesan and basil on top for garnish. Enjoy this hearty and flavorful Italian pasta dish immediately.
Notes
- The nduja paste adds a smoky and spicy depth of flavor that pairs wonderfully with the creaminess of mascarpone.
- Using good quality pork sausages makes a noticeable difference in flavor and texture.
- Orecchiette pasta is traditional here, but any short pasta shape will work well.
- Keeping pasta water is essential to loosen and smoothen the sauce for better coating.
- This dish pairs perfectly with a fresh green salad or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 879 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 731 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 80 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 103 mg
