Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles (担担面) is a popular, traditional, and symbolic dish from Sichuan. From among hundreds of delicious noodle dish varieties, the Chinese Restaurant Association proclaimed Dan Dan Noodles to the list of “Top 10 Chinese Famous Noodles.”
I love firm, long, substantial noodles with sauces that explode with flavors. Dan Dan noodles gives this chewiness coated with the spicy, savory, and sweet blends that satisfy my taste buds. If you love Sichuan food, this dish will please your palate. For another Sichuan experience, you might also enjoy my Sour and Spicy Noodles (酸辣粉).
A LITTLE HISTORY
Dan Dan Noodles can be served “dry” or in a soup. But the traditional version of it serves dry—even though as you can see in the photos, it is not really “dry”! Historically, street vendors carried a shoulder pole (Bian Dan 扁担) to transport and sell the noodles and they used pre-made sauces and toppings. Serving a more soupy version would not be convenient for them. The name Dan Dan comes from the shoulder poles.
RED CHILI OIL
The key to opening the authentic taste of Dan Dan Noodles is its spicy Dan Dan Sauce. And the essential part of this sauce is Red Chili Oil. Most cooks recommend that you make the Red Chili Oil yourself to get the best taste! And yes, I totally agree.
Red Chili Oil is a basic ingredient to Chinese cuisine. I use it for all kinds of dishes. Once made, you can store the Chili Oil in a container at room temperature for up to four months or keep it in the refrigerator for about a year. It takes only a little time to make, the recipe is simple, and the taste completes the win- win-win value of homemade Red Chili Oil.
GROUND MEAT
Ground meat is an important part for Dan Dan Noodles. In a traditional recipe, Chinese cooks use ground pork. Nowadays, people also use ground beef or ground chicken. If you are a vegetarian, you can use Mushroom (Shiitake) as a substitution. For the most authentic traditional taste, I use ground pork in this recipe.
PICKLED MUSTARD GREENS (YA-CAI)
Pickled Mustard Greens (Ya-Cai 芽菜) is an important ingredient in Dan Dan noodles. You can find it in most Chinese or Asian grocery stores. If it’s unavailable, I suggest Kimchi as an alternative. Other pickled vegetables should work too. But for a classic serving of Dan Dan Noodles, Pickled Mustard Greens (Ya-Cai) is a must.
NOODLES
For the traditional recipe, Chinese cooks homemade the noodles. That is a difficult and time-consuming task for most people. Perfectly good noodles are available everywhere these days. I prefer to use the thick Egg Noodles. You can also use any White Noodles (Wheat Noodles).
ROASTED PEANUTS
I love to add some crushed roasted Peanuts on top of Dan Dan Noodles. It not only adds a crispy texture, it also gives a richer taste.
CHINESE SESAME PASTE
I highly recommend Chinese Sesame Paste (芝麻酱), in fact, for me, it is essential to achieving the most authentically Chinese and Chinese Restaurant taste. Some recipes say that it is optional or leave it out entirely, but if you want creamier and tastier Dan Dan noodles, you definitely want sesame paste! And you don’t need too much. A little goes a long way.
INGREDIENTS
I hope you will enjoy making this Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles Recipe! I’m sure you will fall in love once you’ve given it a try!
MORE CHINESE NOODLES RECIPES:
Sichuan Kung Pao Shrimp Noodles
Stir-fry Soy Sauce Shrimp Glass Noodles
Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles
Ingredients
- 200 g Egg Noodles (thick)
- some toasted/crushed Peanuts
- some chopped Green Onions for garnish
Pork Mixture
- 200 g Ground Pork (with fat)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 2 Garlic, minced
- 1/2 tbsp Sichuan Peppercorns
- 1 tbsp Cooking Wine
- 1 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Chinese Mustard Green, cut in small pieces
Sichuan Red Chili Oil
- 2 cups Vegetable Oil
- 4 Garlic Cloves, crushed
- 2 Green Onions
- 4 slices of Ginger
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 4 Star Anises
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 tbsp Sichuan Peppercorns
- 1/4 cup Chili Flakes
- 1/4 cup Chili Powders
- 2 tbsp Sesame Seeds
- 1 tsp Salt
Dan Dan Noodles (1 Portion at a time)
- 2-4 tbsp Sichuan Red Chili Oil
- 2 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinese Black Vinegar
- 1 tsp Chinese Sesame Paste
- 4-5 tbsp Cooking Water
- 1/4 tsp Sugar
- 1 Garlic Clove, minced
- 100 g cooked Egg Noodles
- 3 tbsp fried Pork with Mustard Greens
Instructions
Make the Red Chili Oil
- In a sauce pan on medium heat, add the Vegetable Oil, Garlic, Green Onions, Ginger, Cinnamon Stick, Star Anises, Bay Leaves, and Sichuan Peppercorns.
- Continue to cook until all the ingredients turn brown. Turn the heat down and drain the Oil.
- In a container or a mixing bowl (heat-proof), add the Chili Flakes, Chili Powder, Sesame Seeds and Salt. Slowly pour the Oil into the container / mixing bowl.
- Use a spoon to mix well and set aside to cool down.
Prepare the Pork and Mustard Greens
- In a frying pan, toast the Sichuan Peppercorns on medium heat for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and grind the Peppercorns with a mortar and pestle. Set aside.
- In a wok, on medium-high heat, add the Vegetable Oil. Then add the Garlic and stir for about 20 seconds. Add the Ground Pork and stir well.
- Once the pork is cooked. Add in the Sichuan Peppercorns. Continue to fry until the Pork looks crispy and dry.
- Add the Mustard Greens. Mix well. Then add the Light Soy Sauce and Chinese Cooking Wine. Mix well again.
- Fry until the pork turns dark brown. Remove and set aside.
Assemble the Dan Dan Noodles (1 Portion at a time)
- In a bowl, add the Chinese Sesame Paste, Red Chili Oil (2-4 tbsp according to your preference), Light Soy Sauce, Chinese Black Vinegar, Garlic, and Sugar.
- In the mean time, boil a pot of Water and cook the Egg Noodles. While cooking, add 4-5 tbsp of the Cooking Water into the bowl.
- Once cooked, add the Egg Noodles in the bowl. Add about 3 tbsp of fried Pork with Mustard Greens mixture on top.
- Then add some crushed Roasted Peanuts and some chopped Green Onions for garnish.
- Mix everything together. Ready to enjoy! Serve warm!
Notes
- You are welcome to add some veggies of your choice on top. For example, you can add Bok Choy or Lettuce. You can adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less of the cooking water.
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DK
Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles is one of the best noodles I love. Your recipe looks absolutely authentic! What if I can’t find Chinese Sesame Paste? Is there a substitution? I will try to find it in our local Asian grocery stores. Just in case I can’t find it it’s better to ask. Thank you.
Thank you Amy. Glad you like this recipe. If you can’t find Chinese Sesame Paste, you can either leave it out or substitute with peanut butter. I hope you will enjoy making this recipe.
Thanks for shar ing this amazing recipe.my family loved it.will be sharing this recipe with my friend s.they will like it.