Best Dan Dan Mein By Sy Recipes

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.

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 (DAN DAN NOODLES)

Steps:

• Heat a large wok over high heat until a bead of water dances on the surface and then evaporates. Add the peanut oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the ginger, garlic, and green onions and cook, stirring, just until fragrant. Add the pork and the preserved vegetable and stir until the meat loses its raw color, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook for a few seconds to evaporate the alcohol and then add ½ cup of the chicken broth, soy sauce, chile oil, and vinegar. Bring the liquid to a boil and remove from heat.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Remove the noodles from their packaging and fluff the strands to separate. Add the noodles to the boiling water. Let the pot come back up to a boil, then add the 2 cups cold water. Bring to a boil again and immediately drain the noodles. Shake the colander to drain the noodles well and then divide the noodles between the individual serving bowls.
• Top each serving of noodles with some spicy pork mixture and ladle over a bit of the remaining hot chicken broth. Place some of the blanched spinach on one side of the noodles and sprinkle with the chopped nuts and a little ground Sichuan peppercorns. Serve immediately.

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 MEIN (SZECHUAN SESAME SAUCE NOODLES)

Steps:

• Make the ginger-garlic water.
• Fry the Red-Pepper flakes in oil. This creates smoke if done in a frying pan, so cover it up or else do it with less oil in the microwave. Just buy the pre-made pepper flakes in oil at the Chinese supermarket to save a step.
• Chinese sesame paste (ji ma jiang) or Middle-Eastern tahini sauce is normally used. Peanut butter may be substituted if you can't find sesame paste. It's not the same, but it'll do.
• Pre-ground Szechuan peppercorns *might* be available at the Chinese supermarket. I haven't looked for it because I make it myself. It's called "Hua jiao fen". The peppercorns are called "Hua jiao".
• Each person can assemble their own noodles using the below toppings. A mound of shredded cucumbers makes it even more delicious.
• 1 serving noodles.
• 1-2 tbsp Ginger-Garlic Water.
• 2 tsp chili flake oil.
• 2 tbsp sesame paste.
• 1 tbsp scallions.
• 1 big pinch roasted Szechuan peppercorn powder.
• Add soy sauce, 1/2 tsp black rice vinegar, and sugar to taste. Add one tbsp shredded Szechuan preserved vegetables or a mound of cucumbers. The Szechuan vegetables is the authentic way --.
• Bon appetit or "Duo chi".

CAFé CHINA'S DAN DAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil for the noodles.
• Prepare the chile oil: In a medium skillet, heat the 1/2 cup oil over high. Add the ginger, star anise, red-pepper flakes, ground chile, fennel seeds, cloves and cinnamon to a medium heatproof bowl. Once the oil is shimmering, about 3 to 5 minutes, pour it over the spices. (The mixture will bubble vigorously.) Set aside for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to extract as much seasoned oil as possible. Makes 1/3 cup chile oil.
• Prepare the pork: In a wok or nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil over high. Add the pork and cook, breaking it up the pork and stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Add the suimiyacai and stir quickly until just combined. Set aside. (The goal here is simply to integrate the mustard greens; there is no need to cook them.)
• Once chile oil has cooled, whisk in the soy sauce, sesame paste and Maggi seasoning. Set out four individual serving bowls, and add 2 tablespoons of chile sauce to each.
• Once the water boils, add the snow pea shoots to blanch just until wilted, about 1 minute, then use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a bowl. Add noodles to the boiling water and cook until just softened and tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water just to cool slightly.
• Using tongs, divide the noodles and pea shoots among the bowls. (It's OK if the noodles are dripping some water; a little extra moisture is ideal so the noodles remain glossy but not sticky.) Top each with pork mixture, sprinkle with sliced scallions and serve immediately.
• Mix the noodles to coat with chile sauce before eating, and serve with additional sauce at the table.

DAN DAN MIAN (DAN DAN NOODLES)

Steps:

• For the crushed chili oil: Scorch the spices in the oil by heating the oil to smoking, then adding the Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, ginger and scallions. Cook until burned black, then remove with a slotted spoon. Add the crushed red pepper to the oil and stir until aromatic. Let cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container.
• For the noodles: Cook the noodles in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and reserve the cooking liquid.
• For the meat sauce: Coat a large, hot wok with oil, then add the ground pork. Cook, stirring, until medium-rare; remove from the wok and reserve.
• Swirl some more oil into the wok and add the garlic, chili bean sauce and 1 cup Chinese Chiu Chow Crushed Chili Oil. Cook until aromatic. Add back the pork and stir to combine. Season with Shaoxing wine, chicken base, hoisin and some black vinegar, and continue to cook until the meat is fully cooked and the wok has an aroma.
• Season with Sichuan chili oil, black pepper, soy sauce, sesame oil, and some of the noodle cooking liquid.
• For the peanut sauce: In a medium-hot wok, add the stock, peanut butter and vinegar, and mix until smooth. Taste and add more of each as desired.
• To finish: Dress the noodles with the peanut sauce and divide among 10 to 12 plates. Top with the meat sauce and garnish with the peanuts, sesame seeds and scallions. Serve immediately.