Dan Dan Noodles Recipe
Spicy, savory, nutty, and tangy, Dan Dan Noodles are famous for their complex layering of flavors and sensations. Bursting with authentic Sichuan flavor, discover how to make spicy Sichuan noodles with ground pork in your very own kitchen!
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork
- 3 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoon Shaoxing Wine (Chinese cooking wine)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon marin
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or peanut oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger chopped
- ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 8 ounces fresh Chinese wheat noodles or spaghetti noodles, cooked until al dente
- 4 baby bok choy
- ¾ cup Sui Mi Ya Cai (Chinese Preserved Mustard Greens) chopped, or 1 1/2 cups of baby spinach
- ½ cup chicken broth heated until boiling
- Chopped green onions and peanuts to garnish
Sauce Ingredients
- ¼ cup whole Sichuan peppercorns
- 2-3 tablespoon crispy chili oil
- 2 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste or tahini or unsweetened peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the pork, garlic, Chinese cooking wine, soy sauce, mirin, vegetable oil, ginger, and Chinese five spice. Mix well, then set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.
- Toast the Sichuan peppercorns in a small pan over medium heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Grind the peppercorns with a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder until fine, then add 2-3 teaspoons to a medium bowl. (Add more if you prefer a spicier, tinglier sauce)
- Add the chili oil, sesame paste, soy sauce, garlic, sugar, and sesame oil, to the medium bowl and whisk well to form a paste. Set aside.
- If using spaghetti pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. If using fresh noodles, cook for 2 minutes and drain immediately. Do not overcook.
- Add the bok choy to the pasta water and blanch for 1 minute. Remove to an ice bath to stop cooking. Drain the noodles and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat and coat the bottom with oil. Add the prepared meat, and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Stir in the mustard greens and cook for 5 minutes.
- To serve, take a serving bowl and add half of the spicy sauce, cooked noodles, cooked pork, 1-2 bok choy, and 2-3 tablespoons of chicken broth. Repeat for the second serving.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and crushed peanuts if desired.
Notes
- For the most authentic smokey flavor, try to buy toasted sesame seed paste or Chinese sesame seed paste. Tahini works as well, but it won’t have the same flavor since the sesame seeds haven't been toasted.
Nutrition
Calories: 1166kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 82g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 41g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 2209mg | Potassium: 901mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 11143IU | Vitamin C: 110mg | Calcium: 341mg | Iron: 8mg
