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Nduja Silk Rigatoni with Burnt Lemon Breadcrumbs

Prep 15 minutes | Cook 25 minutes | Intermediate | Serves 2 | Modern Italian-American

This dish treats nduja like the headline act it is now: softened into a glossy, paprika-rich sauce that clings to ridged pasta with a slow, warming heat. The burnt lemon breadcrumbs add a refined, nostalgic crunch—comforting and familiar, but sharp enough to make the plate feel current rather than retrospective.

Method

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. Step 2: While the pasta cooks, melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs, a pinch of salt, and half the lemon zest; toast until deeply golden and crisp. Finish with a little more zest and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil and butter. Sweat the shallot for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and nduja, stirring until the nduja melts into a glossy red paste.
4. Step 4: Pour in the white wine and let it reduce by half. Add the crushed tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes, then stir in the cream and black pepper. Taste and adjust with a little salt if needed.
5. Step 5: Add the drained pasta to the sauce with a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss over low heat until the sauce coats every tube in a silky sheen, adding more pasta water as needed.
6. Step 6: Off the heat, fold in the Parmigiano-Reggiano, basil, and parsley. Plate immediately, shower with the burnt lemon breadcrumbs, and finish with extra cheese and a final whisper of lemon zest.

Serving suggestion

A simple bitter greens salad with shaved fennel and a sharp lemon vinaigrette

A chilled Etna Rosso or a bright, dry aperitif-style spritz