Dandan noodles in a quick broth (ready in 20 minutes!)
Everyone, try dandan noodles! This Chinese dish, where noodles are served in a spicy sauce with seasoned minced meat and steamed vegetables, is simply irresistible. For this variation, we've substituted the sauce with a rich broth that's quick to prepare.
We've structured the ingredient list for these dandan noodles so that most of them are readily available at the supermarket. For example, dandan noodles traditionally include pickled mustard greens, but unfortunately, these aren't easy to find in the Netherlands. That's why we've opted for kimchi; nowadays, you can find it in any supermarket!
We've replaced other ingredients, such as Chinese sesame paste, with a nut butter of your choice, such as peanut butter or tahini.
Black vinegar is a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine and essential in these dandan noodles. Don't have any at home? Then use a good quality balsamic vinegar and go buy a bottle the next day at an Asian grocery store.
Also indispensable in Chinese cuisine, and especially in Sichuan cuisine, is Toban Djan (Douban Jiang), a chili paste typical of Sichuan. It gives the minced meat and broth of these dandan noodles their intense flavor. You can find it in Asian grocery stores. Can't find it? Then you can substitute chili oil for the chili paste.
This is how homemade dandan noodles are prepared.
- Put a pot of salted water on the stove and bring it to a boil. Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until done.
- Meanwhile, heat a large wok over high heat and add the oil.
- Sauté the ginger, garlic, and spring onions until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ground meat and cook until browned, about 1 minute. Then, add the wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
- Add the nut butter to the ground beef and stir. Then, pour in the chicken broth, soy sauce, chili oil, vinegar, and a tablespoon of the noodle cooking water. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
- Meanwhile, blanch the spinach in a saucepan of boiling water. Then, cut it into large pieces.
- Divide the noodles among the bowls. Pour the broth over the noodles, then add the spicy minced meat. Finish the dandan noodles with the spinach, kimchi, roasted peanuts, and finely chopped scallions.
