Dan Dan Mian Spicy Sichuan Noodles Recipes

DAN DAN NOODLES

Steps:

• To make the chili oil: In a small pot, add the Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon stick, star anise, and oil. Over medium low heat, slowly heat to 325 degrees, and then turn off the heat. Wait 6 - 7 minutes, then remove the peppercorns, cinnamon stick, and star anise with a slotted spoon. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and allow them to steep in the hot oil. It should start smelling fragrant, almost like popcorn. Allow the oil to cool. This makes more chili oil than you'll need, but you'll be glad to have it on hand for use in other dishes. Store in a glass jar and keep refrigerated.
• To make the meat mixture: In a wok, heat a teaspoon of oil over medium heat, and brown the ground pork. Add the sweet bean sauce, shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, and five spice powder. Cook until all the liquid is evaporated. Set aside. Heat the other 2 teaspoons of oil in the wok over medium heat, and sautee the sui mi ya cai (pickled vegetables) for a few minutes. Set aside.
• To make the sauce: Mix together all the sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning if you like. You can loosen it with more hot water, add more Sichuan peppercorn powder, etc.
• To prepare the noodles and veggies: Cook the noodles according to package directions and drain. Blanch the greens in the noodle water, and drain.
• Divide the sauce among six bowls (or four if you want larger servings), followed by the noodles and the leafy greens. Add the cooked pork and sui mi ya cai over the top. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts (optional) and scallions.
• Mix everything together and enjoy!

DAN DAN MIAN - SICHUAN SPICY NOODLES

Steps:

• Combine pork and soy sauce in a small bowl and mix well.
• Heat a wok or large skillet until hot. Stir-fry, stirring with a spatula to break it into small pieces. When the pork is lightly browned, about 3 minutes, remove and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil. (This will be for the noodles.) While the water is heating, go to the next step.
• Reheat the wok (add oil if needed) and stir-fry the garlic, ginger, and onions until aromatic, about 1 minute.
• Add peanut butter, soy sauce, chilli oil, sesame oil, Sichuan pepper, salt, and chicken stock and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, when the pot of water has come to boil, toss in noodles and cook according to package directions. Drain well.
• To serve, divide noodles into individual bowls or put them all into a large bowl for sharing. Ladle the sauce on top, top with pork and chopped peanuts, and serve while hot.

DAN DAN MIAN (SICHUAN NOODLES W/SPICY PORK SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat peanut oil in a 14 inch wok or large skillet over high heat.
• Add preserved vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant (30 seconds). Add pork and cook, stirring and breaking up meat into small pieces, until browned (2-3 minutes).
• Remove from heat and stir in chile oil, soy sauces, vinegar, rice wine, ground peppercorns, and scallions. Set sauce aside.
• While stir-frying, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles until tender (7-9 minutes). Drain noodles and divide between 4 large serving bowls. Divide sauce over noodles.

SPICY SZECHUAN NOODLES (DAN DAN MIAN)

Steps:

• Combine meat mixture ingredients in small bowl.
• Work together well and let rest while preparing other ingredients.
• Whisk together sauce ingredients except broth until smooth.
• Add broth and whisk well.
• Boil 4 quarts of water.
• Heat 12 inch skillet over high heat until hot, about 2 minutes.
• Add peanut oil and swirl.
• Add meat mixture and cook, breaking up into small pieces until pork is well browned, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes, cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add sauce mixture; whisk to combine and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium low and simmer while noodles are cooking.
• Just before serving stir in sesame oil.
• Drain noodles; divide into individual bowls, top with sauce.
• Sprinkle with scallions and bean sprouts as desired while eating.

HOT AND SPICY SZECHUAN NOODLES (DAN DAN MIAN)

Steps:

• Heat a wok over low heat and dry-fry the Szechuan peppercorns for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
• Add the peanut oil and cook over low heat for 10 minutes to infuse it with the flavour of the peppercorns.
• Cool, then strain the oil into a saucepan, discarding the peppercorns.
• Add the chicken stock, preserved radish, soy sauce, black vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, chili oil and white pepper to the peppercorn oil in the saucepan.
• Keep warm over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, either soak udon noodles for a few minutes in hot water, drain and add to stock mixture, or cook wheat noodles for 2 minutes in boiling water, drain and add to mixture.
• Heat the extra oil in wok over high heat and stir fry the pork til brown and crispy, about 3-5 minutes.
• Divide noodle/broth mixture into four soup bowls, top with the pork and garnish with spring onion.
• Eat, slurp and make appreciative noises at will!

DAN DAN MEIN (SPICY SZECHUAN NOODLES)

Steps:

• Crush the garlic cloves with the side of a cleaver, then peel and chop coarsely.
• Peel the ginger, then dice finely.
• Place the garlic and ginger into a mortar, add salt, then pulverize with a pestle.
• Add the water to the mashed garlic and ginger mixture, stir until well combined, and set aside.
• Chop the green onions very finely, then measure – you will need 4 tablespoons in total.
• In each of four small bowls, place 1 tablespoon of the garlic-ginger-water mixture, 1 tablespoon of chopped green onions, 2 teaspoons hot chili oil, 1/8 teaspoon ground roasted Szechuan peppercorns, 4 teaspoons Asian roasted sesame paste, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and ½ teaspoon sugar, and mix well.
• Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil and cook the noodles according to the directions on the package, until al dente (fresh Chinese noodles usually take from 5 to 10 minutes – don’t overcook).
• Drain, and divide the steaming hot noodles between four plates.
• Each person individually mixes his sauce ingredients together with his noodles.
• For the chili oil: Heat the oil until it is just beginning to smoke.
• Remove from heat, add the hot red pepper flakes, and stir.
• The mixture will foam, and will smell very strong!
• It can be kept for months under refrigeration.