Skip the takeout and satisfy your noodle craving with Dan Dan Noodles! This authentic Chinese dish is so irresistible and easy that it is sure to become a staple lunch or dinner in your home. With tender noodles, a homemade sweet-and-savory sauce, and toppings like juicy ground beef mixed savory soy sauce, crunchy peanuts, and spicy chili flakes, Dan Dan Noodles serve up a kaleidoscope of flavors and textures that will have you relishing every bite!
Ingredients
For the topping:
- 8 1/2 ounces pork or beef, minced
- 4 teaspoons light soy sauce
- 4 teaspoons rice wine
- 4 tablespoons cooking oil
- 4 tablespoons peanuts, raw, skinless, and coarsely crushed
- 2 teaspoons ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons Ya Cai or Zha Cai, minced
- 2 teaspoons chili flakes
- For the sauce:
- 3 tablespoons Chinese sesame paste
- 3 tablespoons water
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons black rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground Sichuan pepper
- 4 tablespoons Chinese chili oil
- sugar, to taste
For the noodles:
- 7 ounces white noodles, uncooked
- 2 handfuls leafy green vegetable, i.e bok choy, choy sum, spinach, etc
For garnish:
- 2 tablespoons scallions, finely chopped
Directions
Step 1 –Add the minced meat to a bowl.
Step 2 –Add the 4 teaspoons of the light soy sauce and the rice wine, combining thoroughly. Loosen the meat as much as possible.
Step 3 –Pour the cooking oil into a cold wok.
Step 4 –Add the peanuts to the wok and fry over low heat until they turn golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Step 5 –Transfer the peanuts to a bowl and set aside, leaving the oil in the wok.
Step 6 –In the remaining oil, add the minced ginger, the meat mixture, the minced Ya Cai, and the chili flakes.
Step 7 –Cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Set the mixture aside.
Step 8 –Mix the sesame paste and the water in a bowl until it becomes semi-runny and smooth.
Step 9 –Mix in the garlic, the remaining soy sauce, the vinegar, the ground Sichuan pepper, the chili oil, and the sugar. Set the sauce mixture aside.
Step 10 –Bring a large pot of water to a full boil, and cook the noodles according to package directions.
Step 11 –Towards the end of the noodles’ cooking process, add the leafy vegetables.
Step 12 –When cooked, drain and rinse the noodles under cold water for a few seconds to remove excess starch.
Step 13 –Pour the sauce into two serving bowls.
Step 14 –Add the noodles and vegetables to the bowls.
Step 15 –Top with the cooked meat and the peanuts, garnishing with the scallions.
Step 16 –Serve.
