Dan Dan Noodles: A Fiery Symphony of Flavor. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with a dish that's as vibrant as it is delicious: Dan Dan Noodles! Originating from the Sichuan province of China, these noodles are a culinary adventure, a perfect balance of spice, savory, umami and nutty goodness.
Imagine springy noodles coated in a rich, umami-packed sauce, and an explosive chilly oil drizzle infused with the fiery kick of Sichuan peppercorns which I couldn’t get ahold of so, I substituted it with black pepper and coriander seeds. Tender ground chicken, fragrant peanut butter paste, and crunchy peanuts add layers of texture and flavor, creating a symphony in your mouth. Whether you're a spice enthusiast like me or just looking for a comforting bowl of noodles, Dan Dan Noodles are a must-try.
What’s in a name you say? The name "Dan Dan Noodles" actually has a pretty interesting origin story. It all goes back to the way these noodles were traditionally sold in the streets of Sichuan, China. Street vendors would carry a bamboo pole, called a "dan dan" (擔擔) in Chinese, across their shoulders. On each end of the pole, they'd hang baskets – one with the noodles and the other with the sauce. So, people started calling the dish "Dan Dan Noodles" (擔擔麵, dandan mian) because it was literally the noodles carried on a "dan dan" pole. It's a charmingly simple and direct way to name a dish, reflecting its humble beginnings as a popular street food. Essentially, the name is a nod to the vendors who popularized this dish and the unique way they used to sell it.Ingredients
- For the Sichuan chilly oil
- Sesame oil- 1/2cup
- Red chilly flakes- 1tbsp
- Garlic- 6 cloves( thinly sliced)
- Sichuan Peppercorns- 1/2 tsp-1tsp as per heat,(roughly crushed) OR Black pepper corns- 1/2 tsp( roughly crushed)+ Coriander seeds- 1/2 tsp( roughly crushed)
- For the sauce
- Soya sauce- 1/2cup
- Hoisin sauce - 1/4cup
- Peanut butter- 3tbsp
- Rice vinegar- 1tbsp(you can use regular too)
- Honey- 1 tbsp
- For the chicken stir fry
- Chicken minced- 250gms
- Ginger garlic paste- 1tsp
- Black pepper powder- 1tsp
- Onion- 1 medium (chopped)
- Mushrooms- 2 cups(chopped)
- Capsicum- 1 small(chopped)
- Spring onions- 4 (chopped)
- For broth
- Chicken stock- 2&1/2cups
- Spinach- 2cups(chopped)
- For noodles
- Egg noodles/rice noodles- 250gms
- Water to boil the noodles
- Salt to taste
- Crushed peanuts- for garnish
- Sesame seeds- for garnish
Directions
- Make Soya- peanut butter sauce:
- 1In a microwave safe bowl add all the ingredients mentioned in sauce. Heat the mixture for 30secs in the microwave. Stir it and heat again in the microwave 30 secs. Stir well and keep aside.
- Make Sichuan chilly oil:
- 1In a deep skillet heat the sesame oil, add the garlic slices and fry till light golden. Lower the heat, add the red chilly flakes stir well, fry for a minute. Add crushed pepper corns and crushed coriander seeds, stir for 2-3 secs. Take off heat. Once slightly cool transfer to a glass bow or airtight mason jar to store.
- Make stir fry chicken
- 1In the same skillet heat a tbsp of oil add the minced chicken, stir while breaking it occasionally for a minute. Add the ginger garlic paste , onion, capsicum and chopped spring onion( save some for garnish). Stir and sauté for few seconds.
- 2Add 1/2 of the soya- peanut butter sauce and stir everything together and fry it until chicken is well coated and begins to brown.(about 3-4 mins). Take off heat, add 1-3 tbsp of sichuan chilly oil and toss. Keep aside.
- Make noodles
- 1In a deep pot bring water to boil. With salt. Toss in the noodles and cook as per package instructions. Once done, drain the noodles and keep aside.
- Make broth
- 1In the same pot used for boiling noodles, boil the chicken stock, pour half of the prepared soya-peanut butter sauce and toss in the chopped spinach. Allow to simmer for few mins. Take off heat. Cover and keep aside.
- Assemble
- 1In individual bowls, add noodles, pour the broth. Top it with the stir fried chicken. Garnish with crushed peanuts, sesame, spring onion greens. Drizzle some chilly oil and Enjoy!
