Easy Dan Dan Noodles (Sichuan Flavours at Home)

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe This version of the Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles is speedy and incredibly delicious! Just 30 minutes of your time will get you a dish, that is better and healthier than takeout!  Can’t get enough of Chinese noodles? Try our Shrimp Chow Mein! Friday takeout is a tradition in our family. We get amazing Indian curries in London. However, after trying most of the local Chinese options, we end up being slightly disappointed if I am honest. Having tried authentic Chinese food in China years ago, it’s easy to spot a Westernised version, which often uses too much oil and sugar. We absolutely loved food in China. It tasted delicious but never made us feel too heavy or sluggish afterwards. It was healthy!  That is why I always try to replicate our takeaway favourites at home. They are just so much better for us, not to mention miles cheaper!  Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles Dan Dan noodles are a fantastic everyday dish, flavoured with ground pork, aromatics like ginger, garlic and onions, in a savoury sauce. If you prefer to make these noodles meat free, take a look at Vegan Dan Dan Noodles from The Veg Connection. They could be either soupy or saucy. The version I prefer is a more on the saucy side. You can easily add more broth to make yours more like a soup. These noodles are eaten topped with crunchy roasted peanuts and sliced green onions.  While Dan Dan noodles might sound like they are difficult to make, they are not. After all, they are a traditional street food. And what street vendor would fuss over a complicated recipe! This tasty dish came from the Sichuan province of China, famous for its spicy cuisine. And these noodles are spicy!! The heat comes from the Sichuan peppercorns as well as the Chinese chilli oil. If you are not familiar with Chinese chilli oil, it’s worth tracking that incredible condiment down. Apart from this recipe, I love serving it with my fried rice. It adds so much flavour! The Ingredients The recipe might seem like it uses a lot of ingredients and yes, I admit it, it does. But…they are all easy to find ingredients, which are sold in your local supermarkets. Nothing obscure!  Minced or ground pork is traditionally used in this dish, which gets flavoured with the classic Chinese flavours of ginger, garlic and the white parts of green onions or spring onions as they are called in the UK. To add the spice, the Sichuan food is famous for, fragrant Sichuan peppercorns are used. However, I didn’t have any, so I substituted with pink crushed peppercorns. You can also use regular black peppercorns.  The sauce is what gives these noodles the famous flavour. You will need dark soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar and Chinese chilli oil. Like I said, the Asian aisle in your local supermarket will carry them all! Recipe Tips and Notes This recipe uses quite a few ingredients but only takes 15 minutes to prepare. So make sure you get everything ready and chopped before you start cooking as things move fast! Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Chinese egg noodles usually only take about 4-5 minutes to cook. Rinse them after cooking to prevent sticking. Or substitute with spaghetti if you can’t find the real thing.  Slice and chop all vegetables before you turn your heat on.  To streamline the process, measure out and mix the sauce components in a small bowl before your start cooking as well. Use dark soy sauce for more flavour! I used both bok choy and fresh spinach but you can use one or the other.  Finally, don’t forget to add roasted peanuts when serving. Delicious flavour and a lovely crunch! Favourite Asian Noodle Recipes to Try: Chicken Yaki Udon Easy Shrimp Chow Mein Filipino Noodles Pancit Chilli Salmon Fried Noodles Mee Goreng Easy Dan Dan Noodles This version of the Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles is speedy and incredibly delicious! Just 30 minutes of your time will get you a dish that is better and healthier than takeout!  Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Prep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 15 minutes Course: Main CourseCuisine: ChineseKeyword: dan dan noodles Servings: 4 Calories: 657kcal Author: Julia Frey of Vikalinka Ingredients350g/2/3 lbs medium Chinese egg noodles or spaghetti dry2 tbsp sesame oil, divided1 tbsp vegetable oil 500g/ 1 lbs ground pork2 cloves garlic1 tbsp grated ginger or ginger paste4 green onions/spring onions1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns or black peppercorns ground or crushed375ml/1.5 cups chicken stock1 tbsp Chinese chilli oil 2 tbsp rice vinegar3 tbsp dark soy sauce2 tbsp hoisin sauce2 bok choy chopped30g/1 cup spinach4 tbsp roasted peanuts InstructionsCook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water, add sesame oil and toss to coat, set aside until needed. In a wok or a large deep pan, heat the vegetable oil, then add the pork and brown until no longer pink, add the white parts of the onion, ginger, the crushed peppercorns and garlic, cook for 1-2 minutes. Then add in the stock, chilli oil, vinegar, dark soy sauce and the hoisin sauce, bring to a boil and let the liquid reduce, then add chopped bok choy and spinach, cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Now it’s time to bring the noodles to the pan. Stir them in and let them heat through. Finish off with a drizzle of sesame oil.Serve topped with sliced green onions, roasted peanuts and Chinese chilli oil on a side. Nutrition Facts Easy Dan Dan Noodles Amount Per Serving Calories 657 Calories from Fat 306 % Daily Value* Fat 34g52%Saturated Fat 11g69%Trans Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 6gMonounsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 77mg26%Sodium 1566mg68%Potassium 1740mg50%Carbohydrates 49g16%Fiber 8g33%Sugar 10g11%Protein 41g82% Vitamin A 19598IU392%Vitamin C 194mg235%Calcium 497mg50%Iron 9mg50% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Tried this recipe?Mention @vikalinka or tag #vikalinka!