An extended version of the Nambu‐Jona‐Lasinio (NJL) model is applied to describe both nuclear matter and surface properties of finite nuclei. Several parameter sets are discussed and a comparison of the saturation properties and equation of state (EOS) with the NL3 parametrization of the non‐linear Walecka model is made. The confinement‐deconfinement phase transition and the properties of asymmetric matter are discussed. A full bosonization of the model is performed. © 2003 American Institute of Physics