More recipes for our favorite takeout dishes at home
What Are Dan Dan Noodles?
There are many versions of dan dan noodles out there—some are quite spicy, and others (like ours) have heat, but don’t completely set your mouth on fire. These Sichuan dan dan noodles are nutty and have an addictively slurpable sauce. Serve these easy dan dan noodles alongside our Dry-Fried Green Beans or Hot And Sour Cabbage. If you’re looking for more of our favorite takeout dishes to make at home, check out our Fresh Spring Rolls, Cumin Beef, Chicken Chow Mein noodles and Vegetable Stir Fry.
Dan Dan Noodles Ingredients
- Noodles – Udon or yaki soba noodles
- Ground pork
- Pantry – Vegetable oil, granulated sugar, chili paste (like Sambal oelek), low sodium soy sauce, chicken stock, smooth peanut butter, chopped peanuts; dry sherry, rice wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- Spices – Cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, ground (or ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes)
- Fresh – green onions, ginger, garlic cloves
How To Make Dan Dan Noodles
Cook the noodles in a large pot. They’re going to get bathed in piping-hot dan dan sauce, so it’s OK if they cool a bit while you make the garlicky, spicy pork sauce.
Fry the pork in a large skillet. When it’s nearly cooked, toss in fragrant fresh garlic and ginger.
Dan dan sauce time! Mix the garlicky fried pork with soy sauce, sherry, stock, peanut butter, cinnamon, ground Sichuan peppercorns, sugar and chili paste. Simmer for five minutes to thicken the sauce and make your house smell AMAZING.
Pour the brothy dan dan sauce all over your cooked noodles, garnish and slurp away!
How to Store Leftovers + Tips
Peanut Butter or Chinese Sesame Paste? Some dan dan noodle recipes use Chinese sesame paste. This tastes nothing like tahini, and we don’t want you using a false substitute. We use peanut butter as a sub instead because our favorite local Chinese restaurant does and it’s crave worthy! If you omit the peanut butter, it is still a wonderful dish.
How to grind your peppercorns: Either use a mortar and pestle, roughly chop with a knife, whiz in a spice grinder or simply use a pepper grinder.
What can I substitute for Sichuan peppercorns? If you’re looking for a slightly milder dan dan noodle recipe, simply substitute red pepper flakes for the Sichuan peppercorns.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for three months.
More Favorite Soups From The Modern Proper
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