Famous Szechuan style Dan dan noodles (担担面) is one of the most popular Chinese street foods.  To me, it is one of the top Chinese noodles.  But it is quite hard to define an authentic dan dan noodles. In Sichuan, it is crispy, spicy and numbing (caused by Sichuan peppercorns), with lots of variations in different restaurants. However, in other Sichuan restaurants outside this area, it might be crispy, slightly spicy and sweet. So I am not brave enough to call this an authentic dan dan noodle recipe, but it is the easiest way to put together a yummy and satisfying dan dan noodles.

History of Dan Dan Noodles

Dandan in the name actually refers to a carrying pole(扁担 in Chinese ). In the past, the vendors carried the noodles and the sauces to sell them on the street. When you order one bowl of dan dan noodles, the vender mix the noodle with the pre-pared sauce and top with the pork topping. With this traditional method, the authentic dan dan noodle cannot be soupy.

Important ingredients for dan dan noodles

With the traditional method, we serve dan dan noodles with fried soy beans or peas. They present the highest level of crispness. Usually we fry a larger batch each time. You can simply mix the remaining with salt and sugar, serving just as a snack. If you do not want to brother for frying, when you use crushed toast peanuts.

Ya-cai(芽菜) is one of the three most important and famous preserved vegetables in Sichuan cuisine. The other two are pickled zha cai and black salted turnip. Making different types of pickled and preserved vegetables is one of the daily cooking tasks of housewives in Sichuan province. Traditionally, we will have a large jar for keeping this unique ingredient. However, we use packaged version for daily cooking now.

Sichuan red oil (四川红油) makes the noodle spicy and slightly numbing. Even if you cannot handle spicy food, at least 1/2 tablespoon of Sichuan red oil should be used in the mixed seasoning to compete the flavor. By the way, the red oil should be prepared at least 24 hours ago, so the capsaicin and red color can be well mixed with the oil.

How to serve dan dan noodles?

Please do not use large raman noodle bowls to serve dan dan noodles. Choose smaller ones and serve with a small amount of soup base (chicken stock or pork stock), so the noodles can be eaten up within minutes. Enjoy when it is still hot and the pork is still crisp.

1.It should be slightly soupy before mixing.
2. And like a lo mien after mixing.

I made a larger batch of topping this time, since it can be kept for longer time. So you can use it directly next time only with several minutes of microwave.  It can be also used in fried rice.

5 from 8 votes

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Dan Dan Noodles

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Dan Dan Noodles for two people

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Sichuan

Keyword: noodles

Servings: 3

Calories: 406 kcal

Author: Elaine

Ingredients

• 3 servings fresh egg noodles , around 200g
• chopped scallion
• blanched vegetables
• Chicken stock or pork stock
• toasted peanuts , roughly crushed

Pork topping

• 400 g minced pork ,with some fat
• 2 tbsp. cooking oil
• 1 tsp. Sichuan peppercorn
• 1 star anise
• 1/2 tbsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 tbsp. Shaoxing cooking wine
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup ya-cai
• 1 tbsp. low sodium light soy sauce

Mixed Seasonings for each serving

• 1 tsp. sesame paste
• 1 tbsp. light soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tbsp. chili oil
• 1 tsp. black vinegar
• chopped scallion
• 1/4 tsp. Sichuan peppercorn powder

Instructions

Make the pork topping

1. Heat oil in wok and then fry star anise and Sichuan peppercorn with slowest fire until aromatic. Then remove the spices.

2. Add minced pork and fry for several minutes until slightly browned. Drizzle cooking wine around the edges. Then place sugar and light soy sauce in.

3. Add Ya cai in, continue frying for 3-5 minutes until dry and golden brown.

Cook noodles and serve

1. Mix all the seasonings for serving and divide into two portions, separately in two serving bowls. Pour around 1/2 cup of hot pork stock.
2. Cook noodles in boiling water according to the instructions on the package and blanch vegetables in the last minutes when the noodles are almost ready. Transfer the noodles to the serving bowl.

3. Top with pork topping, chopped scallion and toasted peanuts. Pour around 1/2 cup hot pork stock or chicken stock along with the edges. Mix well before eating.

Nutrition Facts

Dan Dan Noodles

Amount Per Serving

Calories 406 Calories from Fat 288

% Daily Value*

Fat 32g49%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 48mg16%

Sodium 590mg26%

Potassium 249mg7%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 15g30%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 24mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.