Add on these mouthwatering Easy Dan Dan Noodles to your weeknight roster. Spicy, savory, and nutty noodles that can be plated within 25 minutes!
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Welcome to Day 6 of my Ramadan 2023 series! We’re starting this fresh week off strong with a delicious bowl of dan dan noodles.
It’s the perfect Ramadan recipe, in my opinion, because it’s so easy to make! Especially for those times when you’re getting off from a long day. This noodle dish requires minimum fuss but still packs a ton of flavor.
I first came across this dish through a YouTube video, where the creator was polishing off this scrumptious bowl of noodles in the Sichuan province of China. You can imagine how much I salivated over it, to the point where I instantly searched for restaurants that had it for the next day. (I would have tried it right then and there if I could, but it was already midnight…).
Since then, I’ve experimented and tried making the dish countless of times at home over the years. And here’s my take on it!
What Are Dan Dan Noodles?
Dan Dan Noodles, also known as Dan Dan Mian, are a spicy Sichuan noodle dish. There are plenty of variations of how it’s prepared, with some having a more soupy style, while others might be on the dry side.
This recipe follows more of the Americanized version, with a sauce rather than a broth. And in order to tone down the spiciness, a touch of tahini or sesame paste is added to make the sauce have a more creamy texture.
To assemble your own bowl, first you’ll add in the sauce, followed by your noodles, then your toppings. These will include your minced meat (ground beef, in my case), pickled vegetables, and some gai lan or bok choy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
(For full ingredient measurements, please proceed to the recipe card below.)
- Noodles: I used hand pulled noodles
- Gai lan or bok choy
- Pickled vegetables optional
- Green onions (to garnish)
Ground beef
- Ground beef
- Light soy sauce
- Dark soy sauce (for color)
- Chinese five spice
- Pepper
- Sugar
Sauce
- Chili oil
- Light soy sauce
- Sichuan pepper powder (optional)
- Tahini/sesame paste
- Sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Noodle water
how to make easy dan dan noodles
Ground Beef
- Marinate ground beef with the ingredients listed for at least 15 minutes.
- Over medium heat, add ground beef to a pan and break up any clumps. Pan fry until the ground beef has browned– making sure to stir and continue breaking up any clumps (7-10 minutes).
Gai Lan or Bok Choy (Optional)
- Prep your veggies by cutting of the end and rinsing. Bring a pot water to boil.
- Add veggie to the pot and add a drizzle of cooking oil to retain the vibrant color. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes then drain.
Noodles
- Bring a pot of water to boil then add the noodles. Cook according to package instructions. Before draining the water, reserve about 1/4 cup of the noodle water.
Sauce
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and the noodle water. Mix well.
To assemble
- Add half of the sauce in a bowl then add the noodles.
- Add ground beef on top, the blanched veggie and pickled veggies (optional). Garnish with green onions. Serve immediately.
- To eat: Mix the noodles until every strand is coated with the sauce. Add a bit more of the noodle water if you need to loosen the sauce more. Enjoy!
Notes for Easy Dan Dan Noodles
- If you don’t like the numbing sensation, then skip the Sichuan pepper powder or use less.
- Some chili oils are saltier than other. Adjust accordingly.
More Noodle Recipes
- Easy Scallion Oil Noodles
- Bihun Goreng (Stir-Fried Rice Noodles) – Vegan
- Spicy Peanut Noodles (10 minutes)
- Mazesoba Inspired Noodles (Brothless Ramen)
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Easy Dan Dan Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 servings noodles I used hand pulled noodles
- 2 servings gai lan or bok choy
- pickled vegetables optional
- green onions to garnish
Ground beef
- 1/4 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce for color
- 1/2 tsp Chinese five spice
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Sauce
- 3 tbsp chili oil see notes
- 1/4 cup light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Sichuan pepper powder optional
- 2 tbsp tahini/sesame paste
- 1.5 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup noodle water
Instructions
Ground Beef
- Marinate ground beef with the ingredients listed for at least 15 minutes.
- Over medium heat, add ground beef to a pan and break up any clumps. Pan fry until the ground beef has browned– making sure to stir and continue breaking up any clumps (7-10 minutes).
Gai Lan or Bok Choy (Optional)
- Prep your veggies by cutting of the end and rinsing. Bring a pot water to boil.
- Add veggie to the pot and add a drizzle of cooking oil to retain the vibrant color. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes then drain.
Noodles
- Bring a pot of water to boil then add the noodles. Cook according to package instructions. Before draining the water, reserve about 1/4 cup of the noodle water.
Sauce
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and the noodle water. Mix well.
To assemble
- Add half of the sauce in a bowl then add the noodles.
- Add ground beef on top, the blanched veggie and pickled veggies (optional). Garnish with green onions. Serve immediately.
- To eat: Mix the noodles until every strand is coated with the sauce. Add a bit more of the noodle water if you need to loosen the sauce more. Enjoy!
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