Dan Dan Noodles Recipe

This Dan Dan Noodle recipe packs a fiery, nutty, aromatic punch you will CRAVE plus you can easily adjust the heat level to suit your own tastes. These explosive noodles are made of fresh, thin noodles layered in an intense savory, smoky, spicy, numbing, sesame chili sauce laced with Chinese 5 spice and Sichuan peppercorns, then topped with crispy ground pork, green onions and chopped peanuts. The layers get stirred together to create the iconic slippery Sichuan noodles we all know and love. This Dan Dan Noodle recipe stays true to the authentic Sichuan flavor and details all the key ingredients but still offers plenty of pantry friendly substitutions.  The ingredient list will look long, but there is hardly any chopping and less than 10 minutes of cook time – most of the ingredients are just whisked together, which means this recipe is a cinch and on your table in less than 30 minutes once you gather your ingredients! If you are a lover of Asian noodles, I’ve got you covered!  Feast on: Sesame Noodles, Singapore Noodles, Korean Spicy Noodles, Honey Sriracha Noodles, Chicken Yakisoba, Vietnamese Noodles, Red Curry Coconut Rice Noodles, Pad Sew Ew, Pad Thai, Spicy Ramen and Pork Ramen.

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What Are Dan Dan Noodles? 

If you’ve never tried Dan Dan Noodles (担担面, dan dan mian) before, it’s your lucky day!  These spicy, smoky, numbing, mega flavorful noodles are a popular Szechuan street food made from fresh thin wheat noodles, chili oil, Szechuan pepper, sesame paste, savory ground pork and fermented vegetables (don’t worry, so good!). In China, Dan Dan Noodles can be more saucy or soupy, but always numbingly spicy.  In the US, the Chinese noodles have evolved to resemble more of a pasta dish with a lighter sauce.  The sauce is spooned into the bottom of a bowl then layered with the rest of the ingredients before being stirred together with chopsticks to coat everything in a thin layer of sauce before eating.    Dan Dan Noodles are typically eye wateringly spicy but you can completely customize the spice level by adding more or less chili oil. My recipe is ultra flavorful and definitely spicy, but you will still be able to feel your tongue afterwards 😉.

What do Dan Dan noodles taste like?

Dan Dan Noodles boast chewy, round, medium thin wheat noodles, coated in an intense, spicy, nutty, and savory sauce, thanks to ingredients like black vinegar and crushed peanuts. Sichuan peppercorns cause a tingling, numbing sensation, while scallions and garlic add punchy aromatic fragrance and pickled mustard greens lend a sour, tangy depth. The dish is finished with crispy ground pork which is savory garnish, rather than the star attraction.

What does Dan Dan Noodles mean?  History of Dan Dan Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles translates directly to “noodles carried on a pole,” but more accurately means “peddler’s noodles.”  The name refers to a long bamboo pole called a dan dan that was once carried over the shoulders of walking street venders in Chengdu.  The vendors would tie baskets at the end of the pole and fill them with the sauce, noodles and pork topping to make Dan Dan Noodles, so as soon as they made a sale, they could stop and quickly whip up a batch of fresh noodles.  Today, Dan Dan Noodles are not just a Sichuan street food, but a popular Chinese noodle dish all around the world.

These Dandan Noodles are fabulous

I’m not going to call this an 100% authentic Dan Dan Noodle recipe, but I will call it 100% fabulous.  As with all of my recipes, I conducted extensive research and taste tests to come up with this winning Dan Dan Noodle recipe.  With this recipe, you’ll get the key, alluring, distinctive factors of umami, smoky, spicy, numbing, nutty, and sour.  However, Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles are one of those recipes that contain innumerable variations. Authentic Dan Dan Noodles are spicy and numbing (caused by Sichuan peppercorns), but in Chinese restaurants, they can range from spicy to less spicy, to more sweet and sour, to more nutty.  It seems everyone has their own version of what Dan Dan Noodles should be, so I’m giving you a springboard to make them YOUR perfect Dan Dan Noodle recipe. The complex array of flavors that defines Dan Dan Noodles requires many different ingredients including chili oil, ground Sichuan peppercorns, crispy pork and pickled mustard greens. As such, the ingredients list is lengthy, but the recipe itself doesn’t require much time or effort to make – there is hardly any chopping, only whisking ingredients together – and less than 10 minutes on the stove!  This recipe introduces a few new ingredients, but trust me, you can get them online (links included) or at an Asian market, and once you have them stocked, making these Chinese Noodles are super straight forward. So, please don’t be intimidated or skip this recipe or you’ll be skipping out on some major YUM!  You’re just a couple whisks and a stir fry away from some of the best Chinese Noodles you’ve slurped in your entire life!

How to Assemble Dan Dan Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles are so fabulous because they are so flavorful!  This is achieved by layering flavors and textures of four main components: 1) the Dan Dan sauce, 2) the noodles and leafy greens, 3) the spiced pork and the fermented veggies, and 4) the peanuts and green onions.  Unlike most Chinese noodles, the ingredients are layered in serving bowls before being tossed together. I want to first illustrate how Dan Dan Noodles are assembled so you’ll know where the different components fit in, then I’ll break down the components/ingredients and how to make the recipe in further detail below:  

First – Dan Dan Sauce: This is a numbing, savory, slightly nutty sauce made of chili oil, ground Sichuan pepper, Chinese 5 spice, soy sauce, chicken broth, and rice vinegar.   The oil is made separately (or you can use store bought), then whisked into the ingredients to deliver the signature numbing, hot, sleek noodles.  The sauce gets divided between four bowls. Second – Noodles and Greens:  Fresh noodles are cooked for 45 seconds or so along with leafy greens that get blanched in the same water. They are laid on top of the sauce but not mixed in yet. Third – Cooked Toppings:  These consist of pork cooked and seasoned with hoisin, rice wine and soy sauce, preserved mustard greens (sui mi ya cai) that get briefly warmed in a skillet for 30 seconds or so. Fourth – Fresh Toppings:  These consist of green onions and chopped peanuts. Fifth – Stir and Eat:  Serve the Dan Dan Noodles in this layered mountain and allow everyone to give them a stir with chopsticks until everything is well coated in sauce, then dig in!

What you’ll need for this Dan Dan Noodles Recipe

I’m going to detail the more authentic way to make Dan Dan Noodles, but also offer plenty of pantry substitutes so you can make this recipe without a special trip to the Asian market.

PART 1:  THE CHILI OIL

You can’t make Dan Dan Noodles without chili oil! The oil is mixed into the Dan Dan Sauce (more on that below) and infuses the noodles with heat and aromatic smokiness. Homemade chili oil is easy to make at home with just a few ingredients and a few minutes or you can purchase Chinese chili oil at any Asian grocery store, just make sure to look for oil with actual red pepper flakes in it. I particularly like Blank Slate Kitchen Sichuan Chili Oil.   Please note that Chinese chili oil is not the same as chili sauce or paste.  If you are substituting with chili sauce, you will want to mix 1-part chili sauce to 2 parts oil.  Here’s what you’ll need to make homemade chili oil:

What are Szechuan Peppercorn?

Szechuan peppercorn (“peppercorn” is the correct plural form) are actually a berry from the husks of Chinese Ash trees in the citrus family.  It actually doesn’t come from the same family as black pepper nor is it related to chili peppers.  Instead, it is its own fabulous entity. Szechuan peppercorn actually aren’t spicier than black peppercorn, but they do boast a more complex flavor.  Szechuan peppercorn taste perfumy, complex, and peppery with a citrus zing and pine, lavender notes coupled with a tangible mouth-numbing sensation. They remind me of a complex cross between pepper, cardamom, ginger, clove and lemon.

Why do Szechuan Peppercorn make your mouth numb?

This tingling sensation is caused by the molecule hydroxy-alpha-sanshool in the peppercorn that interacts with the nerve cell receptors in your lips and mouth – but don’t be alarmed!  The molecule is simply telling the brain that the area is being touched and the brain confuses this with sensation of numbness. Chefs speculate that the numbing effect takes down the heat of the accompanying chilies, which allows partakers to more fully appreciate the chili’s fruity side – and not just the heat – another win for the Szechuan peppercorn!

Szechuan Peppercorn substitute

You can use a Szechuan peppercorn substitute if don’t have access to it but the Dana Dan Noodles will be lacking the unique, complex, flavor notes.  There are many substitutes such as grains of paradise, Tellicherry peppercorns and Tasmanian pepper but the most accessible is freshly ground pepper and coriander. White pepper + Coriander:  The white pepper brings the peppery heat and the coriander brings the fresh, pungent citrus flavor. 

PART 2:  DAN DAN SAUCE

Dan Dan Sauce is mixed with the chili oil and added to the bottom of the serving bowl before the noodles.  It permeates the entire dish with its hot, fiery tangy heat.  The sauce is not cooked, so it’s super easy to make by whisking the ingredients together in a bowl, even though there’s quite a few 😉.  Here’s what you’ll need:

PART 3: The pork

The pork is cooked and seasoned in a wok/skillet until crispy followed by a brief warming of the pickled mustard greens (called sui mi ya cai):

Ground pork: is a crunchy, savory garnish, rather than the star attraction. Pork is the traditional protein used in Dan Dan Noodles because it browns nicely and quickly due to its fat to lean ratio and also crisps up beautifully. Using ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken won’t give you the same flavor, but you may substitute ground beef in bind. Hoisin sauce: Can be found in the Asian section of any grocery store. It tastes like a sweet, salty and tangy, thick Asian BBQ Sauce. Use high quality hoisin sauce like Lee Kum Kee because you literally can TASTE the difference! Soy sauce, Rice Wine and Chinese 5 Spice:  Are all used in the Dan Dan Sauce, so keep them out so they’re easy to access again to flavor the pork.

VEGETARIAN ALTERNATIVES

To make Dan Dan noodles vegetarian/vegan-friendly, you may substitute the pork with minced mushrooms or firm tofu. To prep the tofu, place it in a pie plate, top with a heavy plate and weigh down with 2 heavy cans (to release water). Set aside for 10 minutes before chopping and stir frying.

PART 4: THE FERMENTED MUSTARD GREENS (SUI MI YA CAI)

Fermented mustard greens (sui mi ya cai): are a type of cardamine bean sprout that is native to Sichuan, China that are dried, flavored with sugar and spices then fermented. They are a signature ingredient in Dan Dan Noodles and add an aromatic, slightly sweet, tangy, pungent, salty richness. If you can’t find them Tianjin preserved vegetables, sold in squat jars at the Asian market, make a decent substitute or a mixture of kimchi and capers.  If you don’t want to make a special trip to the market or order sui mi ya cai, you can skip them and your Chinese Noodles will still be tasty but they will be missing that complex layer of funk.

PART 5: The Noodles and leafy greens

The noodles and leafy green get cooked in the same pot for under a minute. You will need:

Noodles:  Dan Dan Noodles are usually made with round, medium thin wheat noodles, 1/8″ thick, not rice noodles.  You can find semi-fresh wheat noodles in the refrigerated section at an Asian market, but they usually won’t be called out as Dan Dan Noodles. Instead, look for thin, white noodles and check the packaging to see if they’re made with wheat.  If you can’t make it to the Asian market, any dry round, thin Asian wheat noodle will do, or substitute with linguine.    Leafy greens:  If you are making a trip to the Asian market, pick up a bunch choy sum (pictured here).  The stalks are quite long, so I tend to cut them in half and use the top half of the leafy stalk.  Otherwise, choy sum can easily be substituted with a bunch of spinach or bok choy. To use bok choy, use the top 6 inches and slice the stalks so they’re no larger than ½-inch.   Garnish:  Thinly sliced green onions and chopped peanuts are sprinkled on the Dan Dan Noodles very last.  Purchase raw peanuts so they’re not overly salty then I suggest toasting them in the skillet first.

How to Make Dan Dan Noodles 

Although the ingredients list is long, the recipe itself isn’t. Dan Dan Noodles come together quickly and are so easy to make! Here’s an overview of the cooking process: 

Step 1: Make the chili oil

This step is optional if you are not using store-bought chili oil but encouraged if you don’t already have chili oil on hand because it’s SO EASY and uses ingredients you already need for the dish. The homemade chili oil can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.  To make the chili oil, add Chinese 5 spice, ground Szechuan peppercorn, red chili flakes and optional star anise to a heat proof bowl; set aside.  Add the vegetable oil to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, until 325 degrees F.  You don’t want to heat it any hotter or it will burn the spices upon contact.  Next, very carefully pour the oil over the spices.  Whisk in sesame oil; set aside.

Step 2: Make the Dan Dan sauce

This section of ingredients is the longest, but it’s the easiest!  Simply mix all of the Dan Dan Sauce ingredients together except the chili oil until smooth then whisk in 3-4 tablespoons chili oil.  You’ll want to make sure the chicken broth is warmed which will in turn warm the entire sauce and make it easier to whisk in the sesame paste.   The sauce will seem thin but will thicken when mixed with the wheat noodles. 

Step 3: Sear the Pork and warm sui mi ya cai

The key to crispy pork is to overcook the pork in a very hot wok or skillet.  Cook the pork in hot oil, breaking up the pork as you go until it’s almost cooked through, then add the hoisin, soy sauce, rice vinegar and Chinese 5 spice and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes until the liquid is absorbed/evaporated.  If the pork isn’t crispy at this point, increase heat to high and cook another minute or so; transfer to a bowl. To the now empty skillet, add the sui mi ya cai and cook for just 30 seconds or so. You’re not looking to cook the greens, just warming them up. 

Step 4: Cook the Noodles and Blanch the Greens

If you’re using fresh noodles, they should only take about 45 seconds to cook, but make sure to cook according to package directions.  If you’re not using fresh noodles, you’ll want to start cooking them earlier because they will take longer.  No matter which noodles you use, add the greens the last 30 seconds to simplify the cooking process.  You can scoop out greens with a fine mesh sieve/strainer, then drain noodles to keep them separate or drain them all together.  Toss the noodles with a drizzle of sesame oil to prevent them from sticking together.  

Step 5: Assemble

Divide the Dan Dan sauce among four bowls.  Top with noodles, choy sum (or leafy greens), pork, green onions and peanuts.  Mix everything together until the noodles are well coated in the sauce.  Add additional chili oil to taste if desired (taste first!).

Dan Dan Mian tips

Here are just a few more tips and tricks for the best Dan Dan Noodles!

Use the good stuff!  This scrumptious Sichuan specialty contains some unique ingredients such as Sichuan peppercorn powder, Chinese Five Spice, Chinese sesame paste, and fermented mustard greens, but they are worth purchasing for these Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles!  Plus, once you have them you can use them in Szechuan Chicken, Szechuan Beef, Chinese Chicken Wings, etc.  Stir Chinese sesame paste: The oil will be separated from the thick paste underneath. You will need to stir the sesame paste thoroughly in the jar to incorporate the oil with the paste or you will only be getting thin oil and not the nutty richness.  If the paste is full because it’s your first time using it, it may be easier to dump it all out into a larger bowl to stir instead of stirring in the jar. Pork is a garnish:  The pork is supposed to be a topping, not the main attraction.  If you would like more pork, you can double the pork and the pork ingredients. Prevent noodles from sticking:   If you’re not ready to immediately assemble the bowls, then you’ll want to toss the noodles in a drizzle of sesame oil to prevent them from sticking together.  If you don’t have sesame oil, use a neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil. Customize heat:  Dan Dan Noodles are meant to be spicy, but they don’t have to be fiery hot.  I used 4 tablespoons chili oil and it was extremely spicy, even for me, and I like spicy, but they were still incredible. 3 tablespoons chili oil will probably be the perfect amount for those who like spicy but not as crazy spicy, 2 tablespoons chili oil for those who like spicy but are little hesitant.  It is probably wise to start off with less chili oil in the Dan Dan Sauce then let individuals add more chili sauce to their individual bowls. Toast peanuts: Toasting the peanuts enhances their nutty flavor and makes them 10X better – and it’s easy.  To dry roast peanuts, add ½ cup unsalted raw peanuts to a skillet over medium-high heat without any oil and toast, stirring occasionally, until golden in spots.  Go low carb:   To keep it low carb, try using shirataki noodles.   Shirataki noodles are long, white noodles made from glucomannan, a type of fiber that comes from the root of the konjac plant. You can also use spiralized zucchini noodles.

Can I make this Dan Dan Mian in advance?

Dan Dan Noodles are best enjoyed after immediately assembled, but the components can be prepared in advance then warmed before using:

Dan Dan sauce: Can be mixed together and stored in the fridge for up to one week.  Omit the garlic and add just before serving or use garlic powder. Pork and preserved mustard greens:  Can be stir fried 4 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Noodles:  Can be cooked and tossed with sesame oil then stored in an airtight container for up to four days. Peanuts: Can be toasted, chopped and stored in an airtight container for up to one week before using.

Dan Dan Noodle storage

How to store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. How to reheat in the microwave: Transfer small portions to a microwave safe dish, heat for 1 minute, stir, then continue to heat at 20-second intervals as needed.  You may need to toss the noodles with a drizzle of oil or chicken both to loosen the noodles.  How to reheat on the stove: For larger portions, warm in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often.  You may need to toss with a drizzle of oil or chicken both to loosen the noodles. 

Can You Freeze Dan Dan Noodles? 

I do not recommend freezing the Dan Dan Noodles once assembled, however, you may freeze the pork and sauce separately:

Sauce: Whisk together, add to a freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container, label, and freeze for up to 3 months. Ground pork: Let cooked pork cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container or plastic freezer bag and squeeze out any excess air. Freeze for up to 3 months.

How to serve this Dan Dan Noodles Recipe

This Dan Dan Noodles recipe is explosively flavorful and bursting with protein, veggies and carbs. It’s a complete meal-in one!  To turn it into a complete Asian feast, pair it with:

Appetizers: Not all of these appetizers are Chinese, but they are all SO tasty! We love Dan Dan Noodles with Crab Rangoons, Pineapple Cream Cheese Wontons,  Potstickers,Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Traditional Egg Rolls, Sesame Chicken Egg Rolls, Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls or Chinese Chicken Wings. Salad: Crunchy Asian Salad, Chinese Salad, and Asian Pineapple Salad. Soups: Asian soups make a fantastic starter, such as Egg Drop Soup Hot and Sour Soup, Wonton Soup, or Miso Soup. Fruit: Perfect Fruit Salad or Pina Colada Fruit Salad.

How to eat Dan Dan Noodles

To eat Dandan noodles, begin by stirring the noodles, chili sauce, and garnishes of minced pork, pickled veggies, crushed peanuts, and green onions together. Pick up small portions of everything together with chopsticks and slurp! Savor the spiciness, nuttiness, and sour elements and repeat. Adjust to your liking, specifically adding additional chili oil if you like more heat.

Looking for More Asian Dinner Recipes? 

Chicken Yakisoba  Beef and Broccoli Chicken Pad Thai Egg Roll in a Bowl Hoisin Chicken Stir Fry Kung Pao Chicken Singapore Noodles  Vietnamese Noodles All of my Asian-inspired recipes! 

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