Dan Dan Noodles

First off I have to give all the credit for me even trying this dish to my cousin inlaw Evelyn.. She took me to this amazing little Asian Infusion Restaraunt in New Glasgow, NS called Mamatsu and I have been hooked ever since.. And of course when I like a dish that much I try to make it at home, this time it was a complete success!

     I can’t express to you how AMAZING this dish is.. If you like Asian food and want to fix your appetite for China and you try this you will never look back! It is a quick meal but it does require a trip to your local Asian Market.. Since we live in Nova Scotia, our favorite spot is the Tain Phat, in Bedford.. and for my Saint John readers you have easy access to the city market.. Going to the Asian Market is ALOT cheaper than buying all the items at your local Atlantic Superstore.

      Here are some pictures of the things you will need to make this at home it would make a great shopping list for your local Asian Market! Don’t worry you can get all of this for under 20.00 including the bag of noodles and I will also be using these ingredients in future recipes.. If you look back I made a noodle bowl that also uses alot of these ingredients that is also totally delicious)

The Pork Mix

-6 ounces ground pork or beef
-1 tablespoon peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
-2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
-1 teaspoon minced ginger (I freeze mine then use a micro planer to grate it)
– 1 package of Sichuan preserved vegetables
-1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
-1/2 teaspoon salt, or salt to taste
-1 handful dry-roasted peanuts crushed

To Start:

     In a med frying pan with heat on 6 add your vegetable oil and peanut butter, watch, wait and stir until melted and covering the surface of the pan.

     Then take your ground pork add it to the pan by ripping pieces off of it.. The meat needs to cook in crumbles! Add your minced ginger & garlic, chopped preserved vegetables and the sherry. Cook until you think it’s finished then add the crushed peanuts continue to fry.

In the mean time turn on a full pot of cold water on Max to a boil,to cook the noodles. You can buy Dan Dan noodles but they are hard to sometimes get so steak and pork noodles will also do the trick. When it starts to boil add the noodles. The steak and pork noodles I buy, I use 6 of the nests for one meal. The noodles only take about 5 minutes too cook.. So while you are waiting for the water to boil make the sauce.

The Sauce:

Combine in a small pot @ med temp

-1/4 cup chicken stock or water
-2 tablespoons soy sauce
-1 tablespoon Chinese black rice vinegar, or substitute good quality balsamic vinegar
-3 tablespoons chili oil (adjust according to your tolerance of spiciness) If you don’t have any I have a posted a blog on how to make John Boy’s Homemade Chili Oil 🙂

–1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
-3 teaspoons sesame oil
-1 teaspoon sugar

When the noodles are cooked, the pork is cooked and the sauce  is combined.. Grab a bowl and in layers, add the sauce to the bottom of the bowl, then add your noodles from the water next, then add your topping.

Garnish with chopped up fresh green onions!! And tada you are done, your very own homemade DELICIOUS Dan Dan Noodles! As you eat these the sauce will come to the top and the pork will fall to the bottom. It’s an amazing combination.. I made this for supper tonight and still think I want more 🙂

The Finished Product

      So thats all she wrote today ladies and gents.. No worries I will be back tomorrow or maybe Monday with my very own recipe for a Porter Beer Beef Stew with Root Vegetables.

Until then Enjoy Life & Happy Cooking 🙂