Description
Dan Dan Noodles is a classic Sichuan street food dish featuring spicy, savory ground pork and noodles tossed in a flavorful sauce made from chili oil, sesame paste, and Sichuan peppercorns. This quick and satisfying meal combines the bold tastes of garlic, ginger, preserved mustard greens, and a tangy-sweet sauce, topped with crunchy peanuts and fresh green onions for texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles
- 8 ounces Chinese wheat noodles or spaghetti
Pork Mixture
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 1/2 cup chopped preserved mustard greens or finely chopped pickled vegetables
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame paste or tahini
- 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns, ground
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Garnish
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Prepare the pork mixture: Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add ground pork and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and slightly crispy. Add minced garlic and ginger and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add seasonings and greens: Stir in soy sauce and Shaoxing wine, then add the chopped preserved mustard greens. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the greens to soften.
- Make the sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together chili oil, sesame paste (or tahini), ground Sichuan peppercorns, rice vinegar, sugar, and chicken broth until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the noodles: Divide the cooked noodles evenly into serving bowls. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles, then spoon the pork and mustard green mixture on top.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle sliced green onions and chopped roasted peanuts over each bowl. Toss everything together thoroughly before serving so the noodles are fully coated in the flavorful sauce.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of chili oil to control the spice level according to your preference.
- Tahini is a suitable substitute if you don’t have sesame paste on hand.
- For a vegetarian alternative, substitute ground pork with finely chopped mushrooms and replace chicken broth with vegetable broth.
