Make dan dan noodles, a classic Sichuan dish, at home
Prep Time:
1 hour
Cook Time:
10 minutes
Servings:
Ingredients
  • 2 2 bunches baby bok choy
  • salt
  • sesame oil
  • 1/2 pound fresh or dried chinese noodles
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoon sunflower seed butter
  • 2 tablespoon sambal
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine (or other) vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ground star anise
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon ground sichuan (or black) pepper
  • 1 pinch ground cinnamon
  • 1 pound boneless pork sirloin, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup chili oil
  • 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
Directions
  1. Step 1: Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add bok choy; cook until leaves wilt bright green and stems turn tender, 2-3 minutes. Using tongs, pull out bok choy; rinse under cool water. Sprinkle with a little salt; drizzle with a little sesame oil.
  2. Step 2: Add 1/2 pound noodles to the hot water; cook until tender but firm. Scoop out 1 cup of the cooking water. Drain noodles; rinse under cool water. Toss with a little salt and sesame oil.
  3. Step 3: Blend together ¼ cup of the reserved cooking water, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 3 tablespoons sunflower seed butter, 2 tablespoons sambal, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon ground star anise, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 1 tablespoon pepper and a pinch of cinnamon.
  4. Step 4: Toss pork cubes in the food processor. Pulse several times.
  5. Step 5: Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a wide heavy skillet. Add pork; cook until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon grated ginger and 2 cloves chopped garlic; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Pour in sauce; cook, 1 minute. Add ¼ cup reserved water (or more) to achieve a thin sauce that isn't sticky. Pull pan off heat.
  6. Step 6: Pour 1 tablespoon chili oil into each of 4 shallow bowls. (Use less for those who are spice averse.) Add pork with sauce to each bowl. Scatter on sesame seeds. Heap noodles on top of sauce. Settle a few bok choy stems alongside. Sprinkle on green onions. Let each guest swirl and dig in.