How to Make Easy Dan Dan Noodles at Home
Make authentic Dan Dan Noodles at home with this simple recipe! Fresh noodles are tossed in a spicy chili crisp sauce and topped with ground pork cooked with pickled mustard root. This Sichuan dish is packed with flavor and finished with green onions and sesame seeds. Quick and easy to make, it’s a great way to enjoy a Chinese restaurant favorite at home.
Equipment
- 1 large wok
- 1 cooking pot ( for cooking noodles)
- 1 mortar and pestle
Ingredients
Noodles
- 24 oz fresh noodles we used fresh ramen noodles from Safeway (6 oz per serving)
Sauce
- 6 tablespoons chili crisp
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 4 teaspoons soy paste
- 4 tablespoons tahini
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
- Black and white sesame seeds
Pork
- 1 tablespoon ground Sichuan peppercorns toasted and crushed
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing cooking wine (optional)
- 6 garlic cloves crushed
- 1.5 ginger root peeled and crushed
- 1.2 lbs ground pork
- 2/3 cup pickled mustard root (ya cai)
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Ensure all ingredients are ready for a smooth cooking process.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix chili crisp, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, soy paste, and tahini until smooth. Set aside.
- Prepare the Garlic and Ginger Paste: Using a mortar and pestle, grind garlic, ginger, and a small amount of oil into a smooth paste.
- Toast the Sichuan Peppercorns: Toast Sichuan peppercorns over low heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Transfer to a mortar and use a pestle to grind them into a coarse powder.
- Mix the Ground Pork: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground pork, garlic-ginger paste, ground Sichuan peppercorns, and salt and pepper to taste. If desired, stir in Shaoxing wine. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Cook the Ground Pork: Heat a small amount of oil in a large wok. Add the ground pork and cook until browned. Stir in pickled mustard root, dark soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until flavors are well combined and the pork develops a slightly crispy texture.
- Cook the Noodles: Boil fresh noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Assemble the Dan Dan Noodles: Divide the prepared sauce into serving bowls. Add a small amount of noodle water to dissolve the sauce. Place the cooked noodles, ground pork, and green onions in the bowls, and toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Garnish and Serve: Add more cooked pork on top, and sprinkle with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade Dan Dan Noodles!
Video
Notes
- Cook Noodles Just Before Serving: Boil the noodles last to keep them fresh and prevent them from clumping or drying out.
- Don’t Skip the Pickled Mustard Root (Ya Cai): This ingredient adds a unique tangy and savory depth to the dish. If unavailable, substitute with finely chopped pickled vegetables or kimchi.
- Keep the Pork Crispy: Let the ground pork cook a bit longer after browning to develop a light crispy texture. It adds an extra layer of texture to your noodles.
Nutrition
Calories: 425kcal