Dan Dan Noodles - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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Dan Dan Noodles are one of my favorite noodle dishes. I love how the mouth numbing Sichuan peppercorns and spicy chili oil pair perfectly with the chewy noodles and fatty ground pork! I top my noodles off with peanuts, freshly chopped scallions, and one last drizzle of chili oil and for the perfect meal in under 30 minutes!

Watch the Dan Dan Noodles Recipe Video Below!

The creamy, spicy, mouth-thumbing sauce with crispy bits of ground pork, freshly scallions and chewy noodles are SO DELICIOUS! I drizzle mine with extra chili oil and add peanuts for some extra crunch. Just look at those delicious noodles!

Learn how to make the best Dan Dan Noodles in with my recipe below!

Ingredients for Dan Dan Noodles

Making Dan Dan Noodles at home is actually very easy! You only need a few ingredients to make these spicy Sichuan noodles. Here is what you’ll need:

• Pork
  • 1/2lbground pork
  • 1tbspshaoxing wine
  • 2tbsplight soy sauce
  • 1/2tbspdark soy sauce
  • 1/2tspwhite pepper
  • 1/2tspkosher salt
  • 1/2tspfive spice powder
• Sauce
  • 1/4cupchili oil
  • 1/4cuplight soy sauce
  • 2tbspsesame paste
  • 2tspground szechuan peppercorns
  • 1/2tspfive spice powder
  • 1/2tspsugar
  • 1/4tspmsgoptional
  • 4clovesgarlicchopped
• Noodles + Garnish
  • 1lbnoodlesfresh or dried
  • 1/4cupnoodle wateradd more to loosen sauce, if needed
  • scallionschopped, optional garnish
  • crushed peanutsoptional garnish

What type of noodles should I use for Dan Dan Noodles?

I like to use a fresh Shanghai style noodle for the most authentic version of this dish. If you can’t find fresh Shanghai noodles, you can substitute for fresh egg noodle or a dried noodle of your choice. Experiment with different types of long noodles to see which ones you like the best!

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Ground Pork: This recipe traditionally uses ground pork, but you can swap for dark meat ground turkey or chicken as well as an 80/20 ground beef.
• Chili Oil: I always get asked which brand of chili oil I use at home and my answer is – my own! I love making my own chili oil – check out my Sichuan Chili Oil recipe here!
• Shaoxing Wine: If you cannot or do not want to use wine, you can sub with sherry, mirin, or chicken stock!
• Light Soy Sauce vs. Dark Soy Sauce: Yes, they’re different! Dark soy sauce is thicker, darker, and sweeter (as well as has a higher sodium content) than regular soy sauce. If you do not have dark soy sauce on hand, you can sub with oyster sauce.
• White Pepper: I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)
• Sesame Paste: This dish is traditionally made with sesame paste but you can sub with tahini.
• MSG: As always, this is optional 🙂

Cooking Dan Dan Noodles: Recipe Instructions

1. Marinate the ground pork

Marinate the ground pork with Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper, salt, and five spice powder for 15 minutes.

2. Make the sauce

In a large bowl, mix together the chili oil, light soy sauce, sesame paste, ground Sichuan peppercorns, give spice powder, sugar, MSG if using, and garlic.

3. Fry the ground pork

Fry the marinated ground pork in 1 tbsp of neutral oil over high heat, or until the pork fat has rendered and crisped in it’s own fat, about 4-5 minutes. Set aside.

4. Cook the noodles

Cook noodles in boiling water until al dente and transfer immediately to your sauce along with 1/4 cup of starchy noodle water. Add more water if needed to loosen up the sauce. If you are adding bok choy to the noodles, add them into the boiling water during the last 30 seconds of cooking the noodles.

5. Assemble the Dan Dan noodles

To finish the Dan Dan noodles, add the drained noodles to the sauce and top the noodles with the reserved pork, freshly chopped scallions, blanched bok choy, crushed peanuts and enjoy!

If you liked this Dan Dan noodle recipe, check out some of the most popular noodle recipes on the blog!

• Chicken Lo Mein
• Jajangmyeon
• Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles (Video)
• Beef and Broccoli Noodles
• The BEST Garlic Noodles

If you make this recipe, please tag me on social media! I love seeing all your recreations on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok! Tag me and hashtag them #cjeatsrecipes