Dan Dan Noodles 担担麵

| By: Haley Yao |

Dan Dan noodles is a simple and tasty dish that can be made quickly and for any occasion. Originally a street food from Sichuan, China, the dish--consisting at its base of noodles topped with a spicy minced meat sauce--has become popular and many adaptations can be found across Asia. The dish is highly customizable to one’s taste and its delicious combination of flavors and textures is sure to please.

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

• 1 lb ground pork

• ¼ tsp white pepper

• ½ tsp Chinese five-spice powder

• Salt to taste

• 4-5 Tbsp oil

• 1-2 Medium shallots

• 4oz Shiitake mushrooms

• 2-3 Cloves finely minced garlic

• 4 Tbsp soy sauce

• 2 Tbsp sesame sauce

• 1 Tbsp brown sugar

• 3-4 Tbsp Chili Oil, or to taste, for garnishing

• 1 lb Noodles of choice

• Optional: Broth for cooking noodles and serving

Cooking Instructions

1. Dice the shallots, and mushrooms, and mince the garlic.

2. Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat. While it is heating, mix the white pepper, Chinese five-spice powder, and salt, into the ground pork.

3. Add the shallots to the pan and stir-fry until they begin to sizzle, smell fragrant, and turn translucent. Add in the garlic, and continue to cook, stirring frequently.

4. When the shallots are just starting to brown, remove the shallots/garlic from the pan and set aside. Be careful not to let the garlic brown too much, as it will become bitter.

5. If needed, add a bit more oil into the pan, add in the ground pork and allow it to brown, taking care to break it into smaller pieces as it cooks. This is also a good time to begin boiling water/broth and cooking the noodles.

6. When the pork is about ⅔ of the way done cooking, add the shallots and garlic back in. Also add the chopped shiitake mushrooms.

7. Combine the ingredients together and turn the heat down to medium or medium/low. Add the sesame sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar.

8. Mix thoroughly and allow to simmer together for 5-10 minutes.

9. Serve over the noodles, adding as much broth and spicy chili oil as desired.

Notes

• The meat sauce mixture is good for a couple of days in the fridge and can also be kept in the freezer for a later time (in an airtight container). However, I recommend always cooking the noodles fresh.

• Sesame sauce can be omitted or swapped for peanut sauce (not butter), or tahini if it is hard to find. However, I do recommend trying to use the sesame sauce. My family often purchases the sesame sauce at our local Asian market.

• For an extra burst of flavor, try adding a splash of Chinese black vinegar when the rest of the liquids/sauces are added.

• The noodle dish can also be served with pickled mustard greens and/or vegetables, such as Bok choy.

• A simple chili oil can be made by pouring hot oil over some red pepper flakes. Other options include buying chili oil, or, as my family often enjoys, Lao Gan Ma brand chili oil, which can be found at most Asian grocery stores.

• Other family-favorite garnishes include, but are not limited to, green onions, crushed peanuts, and/or sesame seeds.