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nduja

/ˌɛnˈduː.jə/
IELTSAcademic
noun

'nduja is a soft, spicy Italian sausage spread made from pork and chilli peppers. It is usually eaten on bread, pizza, or pasta.

  • I spread 'nduja on warm toast.
  • This pizza has 'nduja and mozzarella.
  • She added a spoon of 'nduja to the sauce.

Adinary Nuance

Use 'nduja when you mean the specific Italian chilli sausage spread, not any spicy sausage. It is more exact than saying chorizo or salami, which are different products. In menus and food writing, 'nduja sounds specific and modern.

In other languages

Vietnamese
xúc xích phết cay
Spanish
embutido picante untable
Chinese
辣味香肠酱
Japanese
辛いソーセージペースト
Korean
매운 소시지 스프레드

Etymology

'Nduja comes from Calabria in southern Italy. The name is linked to the French word andouille, a kind of sausage, through local dialect forms.

Common phrases

'nduja pizza'nduja pastaspread 'nduja'nduja on toast

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is 'nduja the same as chorizo?
No. Both are spicy, but 'nduja is soft and spreadable. Chorizo is usually firmer.
How do you pronounce 'nduja?
It is usually pronounced like /ˌɛnˈduː.jə/. The first sound is often like "en".
Is 'nduja used in everyday English?
It is not very common in daily speech. You will see it mostly on menus and in food writing.