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Home » Recipes

How To Make Divine Dan Dan Noodles!

Aug 9, 2021Last Modified: March 23, 2022

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about How To Make Divine Dan Dan Noodles!

Jump to:
  • 1,000 FOODS TO EAT PROJECT
  • Why Is This Dish Called Dan Dan Mian?
  • The Ingredients (Some May Be Unfamiliar) You Will Need To Make Dan Dan Mian
  • Sichuan Peppercorns
  • Common Ingredients Needed For These Noodles
  • The Method To Make Totally Addictive Dan Dan Noodles!
  • Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
  • Absolutely Addictive Dan Dan Noodles!

1,000 FOODS TO EAT PROJECT

I am working my way through the foods that are listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. This is called my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. The Chinese Sichuan dish called Dan Dan Mian (or Dan Dan Noodles) is food #52 in my Project!

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

In this book, the author Mimi Sheraton lists her choice for the 1,000 Foods of the World that you MUST try. Dan Dan Noodles, which is an iconic street food in the Sichuan province of China, deserves a place at your table! If you haven't tried this dish you are in for a TREAT!

Why Is This Dish Called Dan Dan Mian?

This fantastic noodle dish is named after the poles (dan) the street vendors in Chengdu used to carry their cookware and noodles. Chengdu is the capital of China’s Sichuan province. Sichuan cuisine is characterized by having very big and bold flavors. There is quite a liberal use of garlic, chilies, and Sichuan pepper. So if what comes to mind is the phrase “hot and spicy,” you would be right!

Photo by Peijia Li on Unsplash (Sichuan Hot Pot)

The Ingredients (Some May Be Unfamiliar) You Will Need To Make Dan Dan Mian

If you have never cooked a Sichuan dish before some of these ingredients may be unfamiliar to you. I have linked to Amazon for some of these ingredients for convenience sake. You should be able to find everything in a well stocked Asian store.

Thin Wheat Noodles

Thin Wheat Noodles - I've read that fresh noodles are best for this dish, however I used some Organic Sichuan Dry Noodles and they were just fine! You don't have to buy noodles that say "Sichuan" on the package...any wheat noodles that are thin will do.

Sichuan Peppercorns

Sichuan Peppercorns - The Sichuan peppercorn is an essential ingredient in Dan Dan Noodles. This spice contains the molecule hydroxy-alpha-sanshool. This molecule interacts with nerve cell receptors in your mouth and lips which results in the numbing and tingling sensation you get from eating these peppercorns. Pretty cool!

Sichuan peppercorns

Light and Dark Soy Sauces

There is actually a big difference between light and dark soy sauces. Light soy sauce adds salty flavor to a dish. Dark soy sauce adds color as well as a strong soy flavor to a dish. Here, we will use the light soy for the noodle sauce, and the dark soy sauce will be added to the pork topping.

If you do not have these soy sauces, don't despair! You can use an all purpose soy sauce such as Kikkoman!

A bottle of dark soy sauce and light soy sauce

Shaoxing Cooking Wine, Black Vinegar, and Fried Chili in Oil (or Chinese Chili Oil)

Shaoxing Cooking Wine is an absolute essential ingredient in Chinese cooking. It is an amber colored rice wine which comes from the city of Shaoxing, in China, which is famous for making rice wine. This ingredient will add a depth of flavor to our dish, so you will definitely want to have this!

Black vinegar will add an umami flavor to your noodles. Check out this post from Bon Appetit to find out more about this awesome vinegar!

Bottles of Shaoxing Rice Wine, Black Vinegar, and Fried Chili in Oil

Dan Dan Mian is a spicy dish, and Chinese chili oil is an essential ingredient. My recipe calls for around 1 tablespoon of chili oil per serving, but you can add or reduce the amount of chili oil to your liking. I used Lao Gan Ma Fried Chili in Oil, but you can sub your Chinese chili oil of choice.

Su Mi Ya Cai

Su Mi Ya Cai (minced mustard green stems) s a fermented mustard. This mustard is native to the Yibin area in the Sichuan province of China. It's quite salty so I go a bit easy on the amount of the ya cai in this recipe. If you don't have this item, it's ok to leave it out. However, I highly recommend using it if it's available to you!

Package of Su Mi Ya Cai
Back of a packet of Su Mi Ya Cai

Chinese Sesame Paste

Chinese Sesame Paste - Chinese sesame paste is made from toasted sesame seeds. It has a dark color and very nutty flavor. You can sub peanut butter if can't get your hands on this!

Chinese Sesame paste

Common Ingredients Needed For These Noodles

The other ingredients you will need are familiar and very easy to come by and they are:

  • Peanut oil
  • Green onions and peanuts (for garnish)
  • Sugar
  • Sesame oil
  • Garlic
  • Chicken broth

Please don't be intimidated by these ingredients! Making Dan Dan Noodles is TOTALLY WORTH IT...LET'S DO THIS! 😃

The Method To Make Totally Addictive Dan Dan Noodles!

Making this Sichuan dish is super simple!

You will begin by making the pork topping. Simply cook the pork with the pork topping ingredients (detailed instructions are in the recipe) which takes about 2-4 minutes!

Next combine all the ingredients that make up the Dan Dan Sauce in a small bowl and set it aside. Look at this fabulous color! 😍

dan dan chili sauce in a white bowl with a spoon

The last steps are to cook your noodles according to the package directions and drain. To assemble, lay some of the fiery Dan Dan Sauce into the bottom of your noodle bowl. Then top with noodles and some of the pork mixture. Finally add some hot chicken broth to loosen things up, and garnish with chopped scallions and peanuts. Behold your masterpiece!

Dan dan noodles topped with pork mixture, scallions and peanuts in a white bowl

Mix everything well and practice your best noodle pull!

I promise you will thoroughly enjoy this iconic street food from the Sichuan province of China!

chī hǎo hē hǎo” 吃好喝好 Bon appetit in Chinese!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Delicious Chinese Long Beans With Pork!

Chinese Long Beans With Pork in a cast iron skillet

The One and Only HOT and NUMBING Chengdu Chicken!

Chengdu Chicken

If you'd like to come along on this food journey with me, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 😃

Cheers!

Grace

Dan dan noodles in a bowl with chopsticks holding up some of the noodles

Absolutely Addictive Dan Dan Noodles!

Grace
One bite of these Dan Dan Noodles and you will be addicted! So good you'll want to enjoy these daily with your best pair of chopsticks!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 8 mins
Total Time 28 mins
Course Main Course, Snack
Cuisine Chinese, Sichuan
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Skillet (cast iron if possible)
  • Saucepan for cooking noodles

Ingredients
  

Noodles

  • 4 servings noodles use thin wheat noodles if possible; serving size is approximately 75g per person (around 2.5 oz)

Pork Topping (4 servings - divide into ¼ per serving)

  • ½ lb pork mince
  • 2 tablespoon peanut oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn coarsely ground
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon dark soy sauce can also sub regular soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine
  • ¼ cup Su Mi Ya Cai finely chopped; can omit if you do not have this item

Dan Dan Sauce! (4 servings - divide into ¼ per serving)

  • 3 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste can also sub peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 4 tablespoon light soy sauce can also sub regular soy sauce
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn coarsely ground
  • 2 tablespoon black vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 4 tbsp chili oil I used Fried Chili in Oil by Lao Gan Ma; can reduce or increase the amount to suit your tastes!
  • 2 teaspoon minced garlic

The Finishing Touches

  • 1 cup chicken broth warmed; divide into ¼ per serving
  • green onions sliced as garnish
  • peanuts chopped/crushed as garnish

Instructions
 

Pork Topping

  • Heat the oil in your skillet on medium high. Once the oil is hot add the pork, 1 ½ teaspoon of ground Sichuan peppercorn, garlic, sugar, and dark soy sauce. Combine ingredients and stir constantly until cooked through (around 2-4 minutes).
    minced pork, garlic, and various seasonings in a cast iron pan
  • Right at the end add the Shaoxing rice wine and Su Mi Ya Cai. Stir well to incorporate and set aside. You may want to leave this on a very low heat to keep warm.
    Minced pork and su mi ya cai

Dan Dan Sauce!

  • Add all sauce ingredients into a small bowl, mix well, and set aside.
    dan dan chili sauce in a white bowl with a spoon

Make The Noodles

  • Cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain well and set aside.

Assemble Your Masterpiece!

  • For each serving, place ¼ of the Dan Dan Sauce into your noodle bowl. Top with one serving of noodles, and then ¼ of the pork mixture. Add ¼ cup warmed chicken broth to each bowl, and garnish with scallions and chopped peanuts.
    Dan dan noodles topped with pork mixture, scallions and peanuts in a white bowl

Notes

Get ready to enjoy this mouthwatering dish!  Mix everything well, so that the Dan Dan Sauce is combined with the noodles and pork.  Slurp slurp away! 
Keyword dan dan noodles, Noodles, spicy food, spicy noodles
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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