Dan Dan Noodles

4.64 from 25 votes

Dan Dan Noodle, or Dan Dan Mian, is a classic and spicy dish from Sichuan, China. My easy recipe combines savory, nutty, and tangy flavors with ground meat for a quick and delicious meal you'll love to make at home.

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Total Time30

Course: Noodles

Cuisine: Chinese Recipes

Keyword: Dan Dan Noodles

Servings: people

Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

8 oz (230g) fresh noodles wheat noodles
6 oz (175g) ground pork beef, or chicken
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
3 dashes white pepper
2 stalks scallions cut into rounds
1 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoons ground peanuts for garnishing
fresh red chilies sliced, for garnishing

Chili Oil:

5 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons dried chili flakes
1/2 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorn

Sauce:

2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
2 tablespoons sesame paste tahini
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
2 cloves garlic peeled and finely minced
1/2 tablespoon white sesame seeds

Instructions

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the fresh noodles until al dente, drain them, briefly rinse with cold water, and set aside. You can find fresh noodles like these at Asian markets.
Mix the ground pork with salt, sesame oil, white pepper, and half of the chopped scallions. Set aside the seasoned ground pork mixture. Leave the other half of the scallions for garnishing.
Prepare the chili oil by heating a small pot over high heat. Add the oil and heat until very hot. Turn off the heat, then carefully add the red chili flakes and Sichuan peppercorns. Immediately cover the pot with its lid to prevent splattering. Let it sit for 5 minutes before uncovering. Strain the chili oil using a filter
Prepare the sauce by combining the chili oil with all the other sauce ingredients. Whisk thoroughly to mix well.
Transfer the sauce to the noodles in the bowl and stir well to combine.
To cook the ground pork, add 1 tablespoon of oil to a fry pan. When the oil is hot, add the ground pork and stir continuously to break up the lumps. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the ground pork is fully cooked. Transfer the ground pork to the Dan Dan Mian and mix well. Divide the noodles into two bowls. Top with ground peanuts, scallions, and fresh red chilies. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use fresh noodles as they cook faster and soak up flavors better than dried ones. Frozen noodles can be firmer and may take longer to cook to the right texture.
When making chili oil, heat the oil until it’s very hot but not smoking before adding the dried chili flakes and Sichuan peppercorns. This helps release their flavors without burning them.
Adjust the amount of chili oil and red chili flakes based on your spice tolerance. Start with less and add more gradually until it’s just right for you.
Cook the ground pork until it’s no longer pink and starts to brown slightly around the edges. Be careful not to overcook it, as it can make the meat dry and tough.

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