Vegan Dan Dan Noodles
Dan Dan noodles, a Sichuan street food classic. This is a Taiwanese-style take. Numbingly spicy, nutty, and umami, this bowl is everything you wished in a bowl of vegan noodles, and more.
Ingredients
- • 360 grams Chinese wheat noodles or ramen noodles
- • 1/2 cup Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)
- • 3 white or shiitake mushrooms, finely minced
- • 1 teaspoon ginger, finely minced
- • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or mirin)
- • 2 teaspoons doubanjiang, or spicy broad bean paste
- • 1/4 teaspoon ground five spice
- • vegetable oil, for frying
- • 4 cloves garlic, grated
- • 4 tablespoons chilli oil (homemade recipe HERE)
- • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- • 2 teaspoons ground Sichuan peppercorns
- • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- • 1.5 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (or sesame paste)
- • 2 teaspoons black vinegar
Preparation Steps
### Step 1: Prepare the TVP: Soak the TVP in warm water for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, drain the water and squeeze out excess liquid from the re-hydrated TVP. Combine with minced mushrooms.
Prepare the TVP: Soak the TVP in warm water for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, drain the water and squeeze out excess liquid from the re-hydrated TVP. Combine with minced mushrooms.
### Step 2: Cook the Minced "Pork" Topping: In a non-stick pan, heat up vegetable oil on medium-high heat and cook the TVP and mushrooms until most moisture evaporates. Add the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, doubanjiang, and five spice. Cook together, occasionally stirring until golden-brown and crispy — this could take up to 10 minutes. Once crumbly and crispy, remove from the heat and set aside.
Cook the Minced "Pork" Topping: In a non-stick pan, heat up vegetable oil on medium-high heat and cook the TVP and mushrooms until most moisture evaporates. Add the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, doubanjiang, and five spice. Cook together, occasionally stirring until golden-brown and crispy — this could take up to 10 minutes. Once crumbly and crispy, remove from the heat and set aside.
### Step 3: Make the Spicy Sauce: Simply add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine. Note for a simplified version of the spicy sauce (as I've showed in recipe video): Heat up 4 tablespoons of neutral oil and pour it over 4 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of red chilli flakes, 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, and 1-2 teaspoons of ground Sichuan pepper. Then finish with soy sauce, dark brown sugar, black vinegar, and peanut butter. Stir to combine.
Make the Spicy Sauce: Simply add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine. Note for a simplified version of the spicy sauce (as I've showed in recipe video): Heat up 4 tablespoons of neutral oil and pour it over 4 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of red chilli flakes, 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, and 1-2 teaspoons of ground Sichuan pepper. Then finish with soy sauce, dark brown sugar, black vinegar, and peanut butter. Stir to combine.
### Step 4: Prepare the Toppings: For my Bok choy, I simply blanched them in lightly-salted boiling water for around 45 seconds. Prepare any additional toppings as desired. Other great toppings are crushed peanuts, thinly chopped spring onions (not pictured), etc.
Prepare the Toppings: For my Bok choy, I simply blanched them in lightly-salted boiling water for around 45 seconds. Prepare any additional toppings as desired. Other great toppings are crushed peanuts, thinly chopped spring onions (not pictured), etc.
### Step 5: Assemble the Bowl: Cook the noodles of choice according to package directions. Strain the noodles and reserve the cooking water. For each bowl, first add about 180 grams of noodles. Top the noodles with about 1/4 cup of its cooking water (still warm), followed by 4-5 tablespoons of spicy sauce, a few tablespoons of minced "pork," some Bok choy, crushed roasted peanuts, and any additional toppings. Lightly toss to emulsify. Enjoy immediately.
Assemble the Bowl: Cook the noodles of choice according to package directions. Strain the noodles and reserve the cooking water. For each bowl, first add about 180 grams of noodles. Top the noodles with about 1/4 cup of its cooking water (still warm), followed by 4-5 tablespoons of spicy sauce, a few tablespoons of minced "pork," some Bok choy, crushed roasted peanuts, and any additional toppings. Lightly toss to emulsify. Enjoy immediately.