‘Nduja San Donato

Collection: 'Nduja San Donato

Located on the outskirts of Spilinga, a small village nestled in the hilly landscape of Southern Italy's Calabria region, ’Nduja San Donato is a small family business that has been producing authentic, high-quality ’nduja for over two decades.

it
  Italy

The roots of 'Nduja San Donato lie deep in Calabrian traditions.

In the 1950s,Antonio Pugliese, the head of the family, gained renown in the area by going from farm to farm during the annual pig slaughter, helping his friends and neighbors with the delicate butchery. Over the years, Antonio perfected his craft – from cutting the meat to salting and tying – and passed these skills on to his children.

In the late 1990s, his two sons, Tommaso and Pasquale, decided to turn this tradition into a formal business.

They built their plant on the family estate called San Donato, just a few steps from their holiday home. Sadly, Antonio passed away in 2003, before the plant was completed. By 2005, however, the plant was fully built, and in 2006, the company received the European CE mark – thus officially giving birth to 'Nduja San Donato.

The outstanding characteristics of 'Nduja San Donato are its simplicity, authenticity, and commitment to terroir. They use only three ingredients for their product: high-quality Italian pork, sun-dried Calabrian red chili peppers, and salt.

The production process follows the old, proven method: after finely grinding the meat, it is hand-stuffed into natural casings, followed by slow natural smoking and long aging in well-ventilated rooms.

The company also holds BRC and IFS certifications, underscoring its commitment to food safety and the highest quality.

The location of 'Nduja Sandonato in Spilinga is no coincidence: the microclimate of the area – humid yet airy – is ideal for aging, helping to develop the 'nduja's characteristic taste and aroma. All of this – the origin, the location, the purity of the ingredients, and traditional techniques – makes 'Nduja San Donato one of the best producers of 'nduja.

What is 'nduja?

'Nduja (pronounced: en-doo-ya) is a spicy, spreadable pork sausage paste originating from the Calabria region, particularly around Spilinga. Its production involves mixing fattier cuts of pork (e.g., belly, bacon) with generous amounts of sun-dried Calabrian chili and salt. After the mixture is stuffed into natural casings, it is smoked and then slowly aged – this process gives 'nduja its characteristic smoky and spicy flavor.

Historically, 'nduja was a simple peasant food – a way of preserving pork using local ingredients. Today, 'nduja extends far beyond the borders of Calabria. Chefs and food lovers everywhere appreciate it – spread on bread, mixed into pasta sauces, or even used to flavor pizzas. Its fiery yet rich taste makes it versatile and deeply rooted in Calabrian culinary heritage.

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