Meaning & use
n'duja
Last updated
UK/ənˈduːjə/
US/ənˈdujə/
Meaning
noununcountable
A soft, spicy, spreadable pork sausage from Calabria in southern Italy, flavored with a lot of chili pepper.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: spread some 'nduja on toast.
Patterns
- 'nduja on something
- 'nduja and something
She spread 'nduja on warm toast and added honey.
The pizza was topped with 'nduja and mozzarella.
A spoonful of 'nduja gives the pasta sauce a spicy kick.
Common combinations
- spicy 'nduja
- Spicy 'nduja can overpower mild ingredients.
- 'nduja pizza
- The 'nduja pizza is the most popular item.
- spread 'nduja
- Spread 'nduja on crusty bread.
- 'nduja sauce
- The 'nduja sauce was rich and hot.
- Calabrian 'nduja
- Calabrian 'nduja is made with local peppers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spreadable sausage
- Spreadable sausage is a general description, while 'nduja is a specific spicy Calabrian product.
- salami
- Salami is firmer and sliced, whereas 'nduja is soft enough to spread.
- chorizo
- Chorizo is Spanish and usually firmer, while 'nduja is Italian and softer and spicier.
Word family
- Calabria proper noun
- the region of Italy where 'nduja comes from
- Calabrian adjective
- from Calabria
Commonly confused: n'duja or chorizo?
n'duja vs chorizo
Chorizo is a Spanish sausage; 'nduja is an Italian one, softer and more fiery.
Practice
What is 'nduja?
Choose one answer.
'Nduja is a spreadable, spicy pork sausage from Calabria. The other options are different foods.
Make it your own
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