Dan Dan noodles are quintessential Sichuan street food: Chinese egg noodles with a spicy sesame sauce.
The name literally means "carrying pole noodles" after the peddlers that would carry pots on poles through the streets selling them.
There are probably as many "authentic" recipes for these noodles as there are cooks.
This recipe is adapted from my autographed copy of Martin Yan's Feast: The Best of Yan Can Cook. I have a few other recipes from the book on the blog, but it is a wonderful collection to any cookbook collection especially if you enjoy Chinese food.
The key to this recipe is the layers of flavors. Individually the ingredients may sound odd, but they all come together deliciously.
Ingredients for Dan Dan Noodles
Don't be intimidated by the long ingredient list, several ingredients are listed twice and if they aren't already in your pantry should be easy to find in the Asian food section of most larger grocery stores.
- chicken breasts (or thighs)
- rice vinegar (or other mild vinegar)
- soy sauce (preferably low sodium)
- cornstarch
- tahini
- chicken broth
- oyster-flavored sauce (see note below)
- garlic powder
- red pepper flakes or crushed sichuan pepper
- olive oil (or other neutral oil)
- Chinese egg noodles
- green onions
Oyster flavored sauce adds essential umami flavor (no it doesn't overpower the dish with a fishy taste).
Pasta Recipes from #OurFamilyTable
More pasta recipes for your family to enjoy:
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- Chicken Club Pasta by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Dandan Noodles by That Recipe
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Recipe
Ingredients
Marinade
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ pound chicken breasts (minced)
Sauce
- ½ cup tahini
- 3 tablespoons chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons oyster-flavored sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Serve
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces Chinese egg noodles (prepared per package directions)
- 1 or 2 green onions (chopped)
Instructions
- Prepare noodles per package directions.
- In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, soy sauce and cornstarch. Add chicken and let marinade for 10 minutes.
- Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- In a wok or large skillet, heat olive oil over high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned, 2-3 minutes. Add sauce and heat for another minute or two until thickened.
- Serve chicken over noodles topped with green onions.
Sound fabulous? Share it!
Wendy Klik
This is definitely going onto our dinner table very soon. Thanks for sharing.
Hezzi-D
What a flavorful and unique pasta combination!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
This is the type of dish I never think of making at home. Looks wonderful--must stop thinking like that!
Cheese Curd In Paradise
I love dan dan noodles and have typically had it made with peanuts and ground meat, but this version with chicken sounds amazing! I can't wait to try it!
Christie
Dan dan noodles inspired this week's recipe for Thai peanut chicken ramen. I remember the first time I tried them. So so good.