There were two things I discovered I loved when I was in Italy. The first was nduja (if it was on a menu, I was having it) and the second was broccoli on pizza. It seemed, to me, a very good idea to combine the two in a nduja and broccoli pizza. With cooler evenings starting now a seriously spicy, warming pizza made from my favourite ingredients is my idea of the perfect dinner.
Nduja is a Sicilian spreadable salami with an unbelievable amount of chilli in. It almost glows red when you see it. As the nduja is used in the sauce here, rather than as a topping, it gives a warmth and depth of flavour to the whole pizza. The creamy mozzarella does quieten the powerful nduja down a little and the freshness of the broccoli finishes everything off so well. Served with a fresh salad I think this is one of the finest pizzas I have ever made. This is enough pizza for four but we eat it between two. Because we’re greedy.
Top Tips
I have made so many versions of this pizza and the one thing that doesn’t work very well is wet mozzarella. The kind that you buy in a bag with water. It’s too wet for this and causes the dough to become too sticky. Definitely use the pre-grated mozzarella.
In the recipe below I’ve only used a few spoonfuls of the nduja sauce. You don’t need a lot of sauce for the pizza so I freeze it in portions for future pizzas.
The nduja sauce is also delicious as a sauce for pasta. On its own it is quite intense but you could stir in some extra tomatoes or roasted vegetables. Again, I save portions in the freezer for a meal in minutes.
Variations
It’s pizza so the world is your oyster! There are some toppings I would definitely recommend though. Olives, artichokes or sliced peppers are delicious toppings on this pizza.
I have made this in the past, used less mozzarella and dolloped some mascarpone on the top. It is seriously good as it melts over the pizza and is so creamy.
As of yet I am yet to find anything which comes close to nduja in terms of flavour and melting-ness. I think the most similar thing would be to use a very good quality spicy sausage and add a lot of dried chilli.
Nduja and Broccoli Pizza
Ingredients
For the pizza dough*
- 300 g plain flour
- 1 tsp yeast not fast action
- 170 ml warm water
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Pinch salt
For the nduja sauce
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 100 g nduja
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 400 g tinned finely chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Toppings
- 175 g grated mozzarella
- Small handful broccoli chopped into florets
Instructions
To make the pizza dough
- Put the flour, yeast and salt into a mixing bowl and stir together. Use a dough hook attachment for a hand mixer or mixing machine.
- Keep the mixer on while pouring in the water and olive oil.
- Knead the dough for around five minutes or until it's springy and stretchy. If you're making this by hand kneading will take around 10 minutes.
- Put the dough into a large oiled bowl, cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place to rise for an hour.
- After an hour, knock the dough back.
- Lightly oil a large baking tray (one that has low sides). Stretch the dough to fit the baking tray taking it right up to the sides.
- Leave the dough to rise for 30 minutes. After this it is ready to use as below.
To make the sauce
- Get a small saucepan onto a medium low heat and add the onion and nduja. Fry everything together for 10 minutes breaking the nduja with a spoon.
- Add the fennel seeds to the nduja and fry for a minute more.
- Add the tomatoes and thyme. Rinse the tin out with a little water and add this to the pan too. Leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until nicely thickened.
To make the pizza
- Preheat an oven to 220C.
- Bring a small pan of salted water to the boil and add the broccoli. Boil for two minutes then drain well.
- Take 2-3 tbsp of the nduja sauce and spread it over the base of the pizza. (See Top Tips above).
- Sprinkle over the mozzarella getting it right up to the edges. Put the broccoli on top and then bake in the top of the oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and the base is crispy.
Notes
Pin my Nduja and Broccoli Pizza recipe for later!
Wish I could eat broccoli without any stomach problem…the pizza with spicy salami sauce sounds incredible though.
That’s a shame Angie, you could use cauliflower or another brassica if you can eat those? Or leave it off completely, the nduja sauce will bring plenty of flavour!
This is brilliant! I’ve only had njuda on crostini. But on pizza?!! Fabulous.
Thanks Mimi!
Oh, this looks amazing! The best — and hottest nduja I’ve ever had came from a shop in London. Truly spectacular. Now on pizza as part of the sauce? That is a brilliant idea.
It’s funny how sometimes the best ingredients, or the ones we remember, come from somewhere other than where they originate!
Wow, what a great topping for pizza! I’ve never had nduja on pizza, but now I can’t wait until I try it. Terrific recipe — thanks.
Thanks John, I hope you get to give it a try!
Ooh, Caroline! l love the idea of the Nduja sauce! Also that the recipe provides extra for storing! nice! I think this pizza sounds exceptional with the broccoli and spicy Nduja and creamy cheese! Yum! Pinning!
Thanks Laura. The sauce is so powerful and it works so well with pasta too.
I’m with ya on pizza nights – as soon as the weather turns colder, I crave homemade pizza nights! Now to see if I can find nduja around here…
Hopefully you can David. If not, as I suggested above, you could try using some sausage with plenty of dried chillies.
So in love with spicy food. Glad you love nduja ! Thank you for sharing this one and I wish you enjoy your week end !
Thank you!
We’ve been eating pizza at least once a week, we make it on The Big Green Egg which is a charcoal barbecue. It turns out perfectly with crunchy and chewy bits, just like real Neapolitan pizza. My favourite lately has been a brown butter roasted garlic béchamel with fresh mozzarella and dry roasted mushrooms dotted last minute with blue cheese (last minute so it doesn’t render, just softens). Nduja is a bit spicy for my belly, I guess I just had too much spice when I was younger. Adding broccoli florets sounds wonderful though. I’m making a roasted broccoli side for dinner tonight, we just love roasted vegetables.
Thanks for dropping by my blog. Hope to see you again.
I’d love to try making pizza on the barbecue but I haven’t got round to it yet. Love the sound of your brown butter and mushroom topping!
Caroline, I’m with you regarding Nduja. I love it on crostinis and in pasta sauce, but I’ve not used it in a pizza sauce. I think it’s a grand idea to toss that broccoli on as well. We had been getting our Nduja from a Italian deli in Copenhagan, but we’re refraining from visiting places just now. So, I’m glad you you suggested the sausage and dried chili option.
Hi Ron, it would be interesting to see what it’s like made with sausage and chilli, and then when you can get to Copenhagen again and get some nduja, give it another try!
I have never heard of njuda and being vegetarian, I guess I will not be trying it! Your pizza does look amazing and the broccoli topping really appeals to me!
Hi Judee, you could always make a normal tomato sauce for the pizza and add some fennel seeds and lots of dried chilli to make it vegetarian.
this sounds fantastic we love pizza and I literally would eat it every day if I could! I will be trying this!
Thanks Claudia!
I never tasted Nduja. Sounds amazing. Its always good to find a new variation for pizza topping. Loved your idea.
Thanks Rahul!
Ooh, I’d love a big slice (or two!). I hadn’t heard of nduja sauce, but the Italians know their stuff, so I’m sure it is a fabulous flavor booster for this pizza.
It definitely is Liz!
I love nduja also! And this sounds like an awesome way to use it!
It’s definitely a good way to make a small piece go further and add a good chilli hit.
Thanks for introducing me to something new, Caroline! I hadn’t heard of nduja before, but it must give wonderful flavor!
Hi Kelly, it gives the pizza such a great flavour.
I have never heard of nduja until now…and after looking for it I think I would like this sauce…the pizza sounds and looks delicious Caroline…and I think nduja sauce gives the pizza the extra flavor.
Thanks for the recipe…and have a wonderful rest of the week!
It certainly does Juliana!