Not your mamma's spaghetti with red sauce.
Working for an online brand that specializes in accessible recipe, there are certain ingredients that will almost always be off-limits. This recipe features two of them as sweet potato noodles join forces with an ‘nduja-spiked cherry tomato sauce for a radical twist on classic spaghetti and red sauce that’s guaranteed to revolutionize your dinner.
If you haven’t tried ‘nduja, it’s fabulous. Soft and velvety with a great punch of heat, this spicy spreadable Calabrian sausage will fast-track the flavor of any dish. Depending on where you live, you may not be able to find ‘nduja in grocery stores. Whole foods and Trader Joe’s often stock it, but when all else fails, you can always order online. Don’t worry about refrigeration—it will come vacuum-sealed for freshness.
Sweet potato noodles, or spiralized sweet potatoes, are another ingredient that’s definitely worth adding to your pantry rotation. Quicker to cook and more flavorful than typical wheat noodles, they’re great with light tomato or cream sauces as well as deeply savory soy sauced stir-fries. Their natural sweetness plays especially well in spicy dishes—like this ‘nduja tomato sauce.
A note about buying sweet potato noodles: They’re often available in the produce department of some grocery stores. If you have a spiralizer, you can also just buy some sweet potatoes and make your own. Whatever you do, do NOT buy them frozen. They will sog out as they thaw and turn into a pile of mush in the pan.
Tender sweet potato noodles tossed in a light, spicy tomato sauce, finished with finely shredded parmesan cheese. It’s not your typical spaghetti Bolognese—but it might just be better.
Enjoy!
Sweet Potato Noodles with Spicy 'Nduja Sausage
(Serves 4)
4 oz. ‘nduja sausage
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
½ large onion, chopped
2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
12 oz. spiralized sweet potatoes
¼ c. freshly grated parmesan cheese
Special equipment: one large pan, one medium pan
Method
Using a fork or with fingers, break ‘nudja into ½-inch chunks. Set aside.
In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add onion and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and sweet to the taste, 5-6 minutes. Stir in ‘nduja until warmed and incorporated with the onions.
Add cherry tomatoes and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have softened and released their juices into the pan, 2-3 minutes more.
Meanwhile, in a medium pan, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add potato noodles and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, tossing occasionally, until slightly softened but still a bit crunchy, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add sweet potato noodles to the sauce in the pan and toss to combine. Taste and season with additional ½ teaspoon salt as needed. Serve topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Originally published September 24, 2023.
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