Dan Dan Noodles
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
604 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese-American Fussion
Dan Dan Noodles
Description
This Dan Dan Noodles recipe layers flavors from a sauce made with Chinese sesame paste, chili paste, light soy sauce, minced garlic, sugar, five-spice powder, Sichuan peppercorns, chili oil, and hot chicken broth. The sauce's rich sesame and spicy notes coat the noodles thoroughly. Ground pork is sautéed with hoisin, dark soy, cooking wine, and five-spice, rendering a savory and aromatic topping.
Preserved mustard greens (Sui Mi Ya Cai) are briefly warmed in oil, contributing salty and tangy flavor that contrasts the richness of the pork and sauce. Medium-thickness fresh white noodles are cooked and paired with tender choy sum stems, combining soft and crisp textures in each bite. Garnishes of chopped peanuts and green onions add crunch and freshness.
The dish is assembled by ladling sauce in the bowl, topping with noodles, pork, mustard greens, and serving choy sum alongside. Mixing before eating ensures even coating of ingredients. Adjusting chili paste and chili oil controls spiciness to preference. Fresh noodles provide traditional texture, but dried noodles can be substituted appropriately. Additional steamed Asian greens can make it more substantial.
Ingredients
Dan Dan Sauce:
- 2 tbsp Chinese sesame paste (sub tahini, Note 1)
- 1.5 tbsp chili paste adjust spiciness (Note 2, Chinese, in oil
- 4 tbsp soy sauce Note 3, light
- 2 garlic minced, cloves
- 3 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder Note 4
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorn preferably freshly ground (Note 5, powder
- 3 tbsp Chili oil preferably Chinese (Note 6, quantity (or more!
- 3/4 cup (185ml) chicken broth hot, low sodium, or chicken stock
Pork topping:
- 2 tsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce (Note 7)
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (sub 2 tbsp extra chicken stock)
- 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder Note 4
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 250g/ 8oz pork mince (ground pork)
Sui mi ya cai (preserved mustard greens):
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 30g (1/4 cup) preserved mustard greens finely chopped (Note 8, Sui Mi Ya Cai
To serve:
- 500g/1lb white noodles medium thickness (Note 9, fresh
- 16 choy sum stems , cut into 15cm pieces
- 2 green onions , finely sliced
- 1 tbsp peanuts , finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
Dan Dan Sauce:
- Mix all ingredients except oil and chicken stock. Then gently stir in oil and stock - oil should be sitting on surface. Set aside.
Pork:
- Mix together hoisin, soy, Chinese wine and five spice ("Sauce").
- Heat oil in a skillet or wok over high heat. Add pork and cook, breaking it up as you, until it changes from pink to white. Add Sauce and cook for 1 minute, then transfer into a bowl.
Sui mi ya cai (preserved mustard greens):
- Return skillet to stove, reduce to medium heat. Add oil into middle of skillet.
- Add Sui mi ya cai and stir for 30 seconds, just to warm through. Set aside.
Noodles & choi sum:
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Cook noodles per packet directions.
- Add choi sum for last 1 minute of cooking.
- Drain.
Assemble:
- Ladle 1/4 of Dan Dan Sauce into a bowl. Pile in noodles, top with pork and Sui mi ya cai. Place choi sum on side.
- Sprinkle with peanuts and green onions and serve.
- To eat, mix it all up to coat the noodles well with Sauce, then devour!
Notes
- Use Chinese sesame paste for authentic thick, intense flavor; tahini can be a substitute with added toasted sesame oil.
- Adjust spiciness by varying chili paste, Sichuan pepper, and chili oil amounts.
- Fresh medium-thickness white noodles are preferred; dried noodles can be a substitute with adjusted quantity.
- Preserved mustard greens can be replaced with finely chopped kimchi if unavailable.
- Hoisin and dark soy sauces add depth; substitute dark soy with extra light soy if needed, though color and flavor will vary.
- Cook pork until no longer pink before adding sauce for proper texture and flavor.
- Steamed choy sum adds light crunch; add it during the last minute of noodle cooking.
- Mix all components well before eating for balanced flavors.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 604 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 604cal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 56g | 19% |
| Protein | 21g | 42% |
| Fat | 34g | 52% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 41mg | 14% |
| Sodium | 1364mg | 57% |
| Potassium | 333mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 460IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 48mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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