Description
Sichuan province crafted dan dan noodles as a spicy street delicacy with complex layers of flavor. Numbing peppercorns and chili oil create an irresistible sauce that draws diners into a sensory experience of Chinese culinary tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb (226 g) ground chicken or pork
- 8 oz (226 g) Chinese style egg noodles, or rice noodles
- 2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- ⅓ cup + 2 tbsps sesame oil
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce (GF if needed)
- 2 tbsps rice vinegar
- 3 tbsps creamy peanut butter or tahini
- 1 ½ tbsps crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 cups mixed mushrooms, chopped
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or smashed
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 4 green onions, chopped
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Chili Oil Infusion: Gently warm sesame oil with minced garlic and dried chili flakes in a skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes, allowing aromatics to release their full flavor profile. Transfer the vibrant infusion to a heat-resistant container.
- Sauce Composition: Whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, rice vinegar, peanut butter, and water in a mixing bowl to create a harmonious and complex sauce base.
- Noodle and Broth Preparation: Cook noodles until perfectly al dente, then drain. Return the pot to the stove, pour in broth, and incorporate half of the prepared sauce mixture. Gently simmer and fold in fresh spinach leaves until they delicately wilt.
- Protein and Vegetable Sauté: In the same skillet, heat additional sesame oil and sear chicken pieces seasoned with black pepper until achieving a golden-brown crust. Introduce sliced mushrooms and diced shallots, continuing to cook and develop deep, layered flavors.
- Flavor Intensification: Pour the remaining sauce mixture into the skillet with the chicken, allowing it to simmer and thicken. Integrate chili oil to elevate the dish’s complexity and heat.
- Culinary Assembly: Ladle the aromatic broth into serving bowls, creating a foundation of cooked noodles. Crown with the spiced chicken mixture and garnish with thinly sliced green onions. Finish with a provocative drizzle of chili oil to maximize flavor intensity and visual appeal.
Notes
- Customize Chili Heat: Adjust dried chili flakes quantity to match personal spice tolerance, creating a personalized heat level that suits your palate.
- Oil Infusion Technique: Allow sesame oil to gently warm with aromatics, releasing deep, complex flavors that elevate the entire dish’s taste profile.
- Sauce Balance Matters: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to ensure smooth consistency and harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and savory notes.
- Mushroom Selection Tip: Choose fresh, firm mushrooms like shiitake or cremini for robust texture and enhanced umami character in the final dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 660
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg