Dan Dan Noodles Recipe | The Recipe Critic

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Dan Dan Noodles is a traditional Chinese language dish made with tender egg noodles and flavorful minced pork tossed in a savory, barely spicy sauce. It’s the right consolation meals and can have everybody in your loved ones wanting seconds.

This tasty noodle dish is part of the Chinese language Sichuan delicacies. These dishes are at all times extremely flavorful and convey the warmth! Subsequent, you’ll have to do this Szechuan hen made with do-it-yourself Szechuan sauce!

What are Dan Dan Noodles?

The identify “dan dan” truly comes from the carrying pole that avenue distributors used to hold the noodles. They’d stability a basket of noodles on one finish of the pole and a pot of sauce on the opposite finish. The distributors would stroll the streets, serving up this tasty deal with to hungry folks. So, what precisely are dan dan noodles? They’re a sort of noodle dish made with wheat noodles (right this moment I’m utilizing ramen noodles for simple prep), often boiled till they’re comfortable and springy. The noodles are then topped with minced pork and a mouthwatering sauce that’s really the star of the present.

This sauce is constructed from a mix of hoisin, soy sauce, Chinese language black vinegar, contemporary garlic, and a bunch of scrumptious spices. It’s good and savory with a slight kick of warmth! To stability out the flavors a bit, I add brown sugar for smoky, caramelized goodness. Despite the fact that this dan dan recipe makes use of do-it-yourself sauce, the entire dish is definitely actually easy to throw collectively, and takes beneath an hour! The entire household goes to find it irresistible as a result of I imply, you may’t go incorrect with flavorful minced pork and a bunch of noodles.

All of the Elements You Will Want

I do know it seems like so much, however belief me, every ingredient performs a vital function in making the flavour of dan dan noodles pretty much as good as it’s! For those who’re having bother discovering a few of these components on the grocery retailer, chances are you’ll must make a run to your native Asian market. Observe: actual measurements are within the recipe card beneath.

For the Pork

• Vegetable Oil: A tablespoon of vegetable oil is used to prepare dinner the bottom pork in.
• Floor Pork: Tender and flavorful, this pound of floor pork brings a satisfying meatiness to the dan dan noodles. Though minced pork is often added, it’s also possible to use floor beef, hen, and even crumbled tofu.
• Chinkiang Vinegar: Only a tablespoon of this tangy vinegar works its magic, including a zingy twist to the pork. For those who can’t discover chinkiang vinegar, rice vinegar may even work instead.
• Hoisin Sauce: This candy, savory, and shiny sauce provides sweetness and depth of taste to the dish.
• Soy Sauce: A must-add for savory goodness!
• Brown Sugar: To stability out the flavors and add a bit sweetness.

For the Sauce

• Reserved Water From the Noodles: Half a cup of the reserved starchy water from the noodles helps create a silky and flavorful sauce.
• Tahini: Creamy and nutty, tahini provides a velvety richness to the sauce.
• Soy Sauce: For the right savory, umami style.
• Hoisin Sauce: Infuses the sauce with a beautiful depth and sweetness.
• Chinkiang Vinegar: Provides tanginess and a bit acidity.
• Brown Sugar: Once more, to stability out the flavors and add a contact of sweetness.
• Chinese language 5 Spice: This mix is often fabricated from star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns. You should buy it premade or additionally make it from scratch utilizing my recipe right here.
• Minced Garlic: Nothing’s higher than contemporary garlic! It provides the sauce the right sharp, savory taste.
• Sesame Oil: Provides a tasty nutty taste to the sauce.
• Sesame Seeds: For a bit little bit of texture.

Serving

• Cooked Ramen Noodles: Once more, historically wheat noodles are used right here. However for simple prep, cooked ramen noodles is one other nice possibility!
• Toasted Chopped Peanuts: For some further texture and nutty taste.
• Chili Oil: Drizzle this on prime of the dan dan noodles for an additional kick of spice.
• Chopped Inexperienced Onions: Inexperienced onions or spring onions are the right garnish!

The way to Make Dan Dan Noodles

After getting your whole components prepared, right here’s the best way to take advantage of flavorful pot of noodles round! Dan dan noodles are so irresistible.

1. Put together Noodles Beforehand: Cook dinner your noodles in response to bundle directions, drain after which put aside.
2. Whisk Sauce Elements: In a small bowl whisk collectively all of the components to your sauce till mixed.
3. Cook dinner the Minced Pork: In a big pan, over medium excessive warmth, add your vegetable oil and floor pork. Cook dinner till your pork is nearly cooked by way of.
4. Add Sauce: To the pork, add your chinkiang vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Proceed cooking till the pork has cooked by way of.
5. Mix: Place the cooked noodles within the pan with the pork and pour the combined sauce excessive.
6. Stir Fry: Stir fry the noodles with the pork and sauce till the sauce has coated all the pieces.
7. Serve: Take away from warmth. To serve, place a portion of noodles right into a bowl, then prime with the toasted peanuts, chili oil, and inexperienced onions.