Most people know that Italy, at some point, kicked little Sicily into the Mediterranean Sea. What they don’t all know, sadly, is that the toe that did the kicking also produces a fantastic spicy, spreadable salami called nduja.
Made of mainly pig's head, lard and belly, this paté like paste has thankfully made its way over to the UK in the last decade, but as of yet, has still not enjoyed the same popularity as its solid sausage-shaped siblings.
But help is at hand; we've rounded up the best places across the capital to buy, eat and enjoy nduja, from a stall on Borough Market to an East London eatery new this year. Spread the word!
Rocket
What could be better than stone baked pizza? Stone baked nduja pizza, obviously. Rocket’s pizza matches the spicy spread with cherry tomatoes, prosciutto, olives and sundried tomatoes — and, dare we say it, it's actually worth the £13.60 price tag. Their zucchini tempura side is also worth a go at any of their four sites across London.
Rocket, 36-38 Kingsway, WC2B 6EY
201 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3AB
6 Adams Court, EC2N 1DX
Churchill Place, E14 5RB
The Richmond
This Hackney restaurant serves a seafood stew spiked with nduja, pasta shells and aioli. They also have an oyster bar and run ‘oyster happy hour’ from 6pm-7pm in the week and 5pm-6pm on Saturdays. Everything needed for a shucking good night, then.
The Richmond, 1A Westgate Street, E8 3RL
Pizza Pilgrims
Starting out as men in ven, the Pizza Pilgrims brothers now have restaurants in both Soho's Dean Street and Kingly Court. Their nduja pizza has apparently become one of their signatures, showcasing the ingredient by simply adding it to a margherita. The boys toured Italy for a year on a 'pizza pilgrimage' before launching the business, spending time in nduja's home region Calabria — these guys know their stuff.
Pizza Pilgrims, 11 Dean Street, W1D 3RP
11 Kingly Street, W1B 5PW
Source Battersea
Source’s nduja dish has it served on sourdough with buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes. Pair that with a bottle from their generous wine list and you've got a very tasty evening ahead of you.
Source, 35-37 Parkgate Road, SW11 4NP
The Eagle
With its fantastic beer garden, outdoor bar and barbecue The Eagle is a great place for a pint in Shepherd’s Bush throughout summer. Their menu mainly focuses on British dishes but word is a new addition to the menu — Dorset crab and nduja gratin with fries - is coming in the next few weeks.
The Eagle, 215 Askew Road, W12 9AZ
Mayfair Pizza Co
If you fancy something a little more upper class, Mayfair Pizza Co in cobbled courtyard Lancashire Court, serve two posh pizzas with an nduja kick. Their Diavola is also topped with tomato, mozzarella, chilli and parmesan. or if you’re feeling brave. the Hottest Special comes with both Christ On A Bike and For The Love Of God sauces, spicy pork rib, chilli flakes, smoked jalapeño powder, scotch bonnets, burrata and nduja. Maybe opt for a glass of milk on the side though.
Mayfair Pizza Co, 4 Lancashire Court, W1S 1EY
De Calabria
Giuseppe Mele’s Borough Market stall, De Calabria, stocks jars of delicious nduja and trades on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. You can find him in Three Crown Square.
De Calabria, 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL
Zerodegrees
Right on the edge of the heath this microbrewery-cum-bar-cum-restaurant has nduja on its tapas menu. Not mixed with anything, not diluted, just in a pot ready to spread. They also have a selection of their own beers to enjoy and enough staff to keep you well attended-to.
Zerodegrees, 29-31 Montpelier Vale, SE3 0TJ
Carluccios
With 12 sites across London you’re never too far from a Carluccios, which with an nduja-hunting hat on, is not a bad thing. The restaurant’s delis sell 180g jars of their own brand nduja for £4.95. Why not pick up some of their Ciappe Ligurian flatbread, and head to the park for a picnic.
Found nduja somewhere else? Let us know in the comments below.