Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles

Although Dan Dan Noodles are famous around the world, the original Dan Dan Noodles are from Sichuan. It is a classic Sichuan noodle dish and it has been enjoyed by so many different cultures all over the world! 

Dan Dan noodles was once a street food in Chengdu Sichuan and sold by street vendors. The vendors carry two baskets on a long bamboo stick, one on each side, on their shoulders. When stopped by a customer, the vendor would put the containers on the ground. Heat up water with a coal heated stove. When the noodles are ready, the vendor would top it with the already prepared pork topping (shao zi), chili oil and crushed peanuts. Because the vendors are walking the street with the containers, original Dan Dan Noodles come in small bowls and they are super tasty. 

What does Dan Dan Noodles taste like?

Dan Dan noodles has a pungent taste due to its unique soup base. Usually you’ll taste the savory from soy sauce and ya cai (Sichuan Pickled Vegetable), and the sourness from vinegar. The spiciness will immediately kick in from the chili oil after each bite. It is also meaty because of the pork topping added to the top. Additionally the crushed peanuts adds a crunchiness to this dish. It is absolutely heavenly!

Are Dan Dan Noodles hot or cold?

Dan Dan noodles are served hot. But with less soup in this noodle dish, it can get cold soon after it’s served. The taste is good either cold or hot.

Where do Dan Dan Noodles come from?

Dan Dan noodles originates from Sichuan China. It was sold as a street food in the streets of Sichuan during the late Qing dynasty. The name Dan Dan refers to the pole vendors use to carry baskets containing noodles and sauces.

I’m sharing the traditional Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles recipe and you’ll absolutely love it! 

Ingredients: 

Dan Dan Pork topping: 

ground pork 250g or 1/2 lb

ya cai (Sichuan pickled vegetable) 100g (purchase link: https://amzn.to/3kEqx6C )

star anise 1 (purchase link: https://amzn.to/3zKMYv0)

cooking wine 2 tbsp (purchase link: https://amzn.to/39DzHK6)

cooking oil 1 tbsp

Dan Dan Noodles Soup base:

soy sauce 1 tbsp (purchase link:https://amzn.to/3o8S9Tv)

vinegar 1 tbsp (purchase link: https://amzn.to/39HdDhM)

salt 1/4 tsp

ground peppercorn 1/4 tsp  (purchase link: https://amzn.to/3zIF3yo)

sesame oil 1 tbsp (purchase link: https://amzn.to/3i9OsJs)

chili oil 2 tbsp

sesame paste 1 tsp (purchase link: https://amzn.to/3COxXud)

noodle water 1/2 cup

Topping:

chopped green onion

crushed roasted peanuts

Optional vegetable:

bok choy or spinach

Instructions:

1. Add oil to a pan, add in 1 star anise,  fry ground pork until color changes. Add in Ya Cai (Sichuan Pickled Vegetable) and stir fry. Season with cooking wine. Stir fry until meat is slightly dehydrated, remove to a container.
2. Make soup base. Combine ingredients for the soup base. Set aside.
3. Boil water to cook noodles per instruction.
4. Take out noodles to the soup bowl. Top with pork topping, green onion and crushed roasted peanuts.
   

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   Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles

   Traditional Dan Dan Noodles recipe. Classic flavor from Sichuan.

   Course Appetizer, Snack

   Cuisine Chinese

   Keyword china dan dan noodles, Dan Dan Mian, dan dan noodles, dan dan noodles pork, mian tiao, Sichuan Dan Dan Mian, Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles, Sichuan Dish, Sichuan Street food, szechuan dan dan noodles

   Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

   Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

   Servings 1

   Equipment

   • 1 wok/pan

   Ingredients

   • 1 serving noodles

   Dan Dan Pork Topping

   • 250 gram ground pork
   • 100 gram ya cai (Sichuan Pickled Vegetable)
   • 1 star anise
   • 1 tbsp cooking wine
   • 1 tbsp cooking oil

   Soup Base

   • 1 tbsp soy sauce
   • 1 tbsp vinegar
   • 1/4 tsp salt
   • 1/4 tsp ground Sichuan peppercorn
   • 1 tbsp sesame oil
   • 2 tbsp chili oil
   • 1 tsp sesame paste(tahini)
   • 1/2 cup noodle water

   Topping

   • 1 tbsp chopped green onion
   • 1 tbsp crushed roasted peanuts

   Optional Vegetable

   • bok choy or spinach

   Instructions

   • Add oil to a pan, add in 1 star anise,  fry ground pork until color changes. Add in Ya Cai (Sichuan Pickled Vegetable) and stir fry. Season with cooking wine. Stir fry until meat is slightly dehydrated, remove to a container.
     
   • Make soup base. Combine ingredients for the soup base. Set aside.
     
   • Boil water to cook noodles per instruction.
     
   • Take out noodles to the soup bowl. Top with pork topping, green onion and crushed roasted peanuts.
     

   Video