Dan Dan Noodles is a flavorful, spicy noodle dish that packs a punch with every bite. This classic Sichuan street food combines tender noodles with a savoury, slightly numbing chili oil sauce, ground pork, and crunchy peanuts for a truly addictive dish. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal with bold flavours or something to impress your guests, Dan Dan Noodles are perfect for bringing some heat to your table.
Originating from Sichuan province in China, Dan Dan Noodles were originally a humble street food sold by vendors who carried their wares on a bamboo pole (called a “dan dan”) slung over their shoulders. The dish was traditionally simple and inexpensive, often served in small portions to travelers passing by. Over time, the recipe has evolved, with variations now found all over the world, though it always retains the distinct Sichuan flavour profile of spicy, tangy, and numbing sensations from the region’s famous chilli oil and Sichuan peppercorns.
Classic Dan Dan Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
3 tablespoons cooking oil
¼ pound ground pork (minced pork)- 2 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 teaspoon Hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 pinch Salt - to taste- 7 ounces wheat flour noodles - dried Chinese
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce - light
- ¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon rice vinegar- 4 tablespoons chile oil - with its sediment
¼ cup green onions (scallions or green shallots) - green parts only- ¼ cup pickled vegetables
- ¾ cup cooking oil
Instructions
- Heat oil in a frying pan. Fry pork making sure to break it down into crumbly bits. Once browned and almost crispy, add Shaoxing wine, hoi sin and soy sauce. Salt to taste.
- Set a medium pot to boil. Add noodles and cook as per package directions. Drain, saving 3/4 cup of the starchy cooking liquid for sauce.
- Mix soy sauce, salt, rice wine vinegar, chile oil, green onions, pickled veggies. Add cooking liquid.
- Place noodles in a bowl, pour sauce and then add pork. Make sure to stir all together so they can all mingle.
