Who doesn’t love Dan Dan Noodles and here I’m introducing the best vegetarian version!!! In China, we have a long history of eating vegetarian food because of our buddhist culture! Monks in the temples adopt a strict vegetarian diet. Some people will eat vegetarian food on certain days of the month for their buddhist tradition. This Dan Dan Noodles topping uses firm tofu instead of pork but the flavor is still amazing. So if you are trying to cook vegetarian food, this Vegetarian Dan Dan Noodles recipe is a great choice!!
If you want to see how to make traditional Dan Dan Noodles, check out this recipe!
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What is Dan Dan Sauce made of?
Dan Dan Sauce is made of soy sauce, vinegar, salt, Sichuan peppercorn powder, sesame paste (tahini), sesame oil and chili oil.
What is vegetarian Dan Dan Noodles?
Traditional Dan Dan Noodles uses ground pork for topping. Vegetarian Dan Dan noodles uses fried firm tofu or other vegan meat as topping.
What are Dan Dan Noodles made of?
Dan Dan noodles are made of Chinese wheat noodles, a sauce and toppings. Typically toppings include crushed peanuts and a fried topping with yacai. Greens such as bok choy, spinach are also optional ingredients.
Firm Tofu for Topping
In this case, we use firm tofu as the topping instead of pork. Break tofu into small pieces by squeezing with hand. Fry on a wok or pan. Add yacai. Season with dark soy sauce, light soy sauce and sugar to add color and flavors to the tofu.
You can also use other vegan meat options for the topping. But I personally prefer tofu.
Crushed Peanuts
Roasted peanuts are essential to Dan Dan noodles. They add so much flavor and crunchiness to the noodle dish! Make sure to roast the peanuts on medium low heat with a little oil. When they start to turn brown, transfer to a mortar and pestle. Smash until they become small pieces. You can do this step a day before and you can save additional peanuts for other dishes.
Chili Oil
Chili oil is one of the most important ingredients for Dan Dan noodle sauce. If you don’t have it, you can make it quickly at home. I have a 5-minute chili oil recipe that works great for any general purpose.
Watch full video instruction:
Ingredients
Method
- Take out 1 block of firm tofu. Pat dry with paper towel. Squeeze out extra water as much as possible.
- Start fire and use a pan or wok to cook topping. Add 1 tbsp of oil, then drop in a star anise. Break off a piece of tofu and squeeze with your hand. Break tofu into the smallest pieces possible. Stir fry until tofu starts to brown.
- Season with some dark soy sauce for color, light soy sauce for flavor, a little sugar, and add ya cai. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes. Take out and set aside.
- Roast some peanuts on a pan with a little oil. When peanuts starts to brown transfer to a mortar and pestle. Smash peanuts until they become small pieces.
- In a serving bowl, combine light soy sauce, vinegar, a pinch of salt, Sichuan peppercorn powder, sesame oil, and sesame paste or tahini. Top with 2 tbsp of chili oil. Mix well.
- Bring a pot of water to boil, blanch a few leaves of Bok Choy. Take out and set aside. Cook noodles per instruction.
- Fold noodles on a skimmer，then slide noodles into the serving bowl. This way the noodles lay flat in the bowl so it’s easier to add toppings later.
- Add veggies to the side. Top with vegetarian dan dan topping. Add crushed peanuts. Lastly garnish with some spring onion.
Love that this can be made vegan! 😍
Yes!! Tastes great with Tofu 🙂