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Spicy Dan Dan noodles with ground pork, bok choy, and chili crisp served in a bowl with chopsticks

Dan Dan Noodles Anyone Can Make

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  • Author: Jenn Giam Smith
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Dairy-Free

Description

Creamy, spicy Dan Dan noodles made with easy-to-find ingredients — a bold, savory noodle bowl with ground pork, bok choy, and a chili crisp sesame sauce.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Pork

  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
  • 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
  • 1/3 cup kimchi, chopped

For the Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons Chinese sesame paste (or tahini)
  • 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons cane sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Szechuan chili sauce
  • 1/2 cup chili crisp (or chili crunch)
  • 1/4 cup hot noodle water, plus more as needed

For the Noodles + Veg

  • 1 lb Hokkien stir-fry noodles (fresh or dried)
    (or spaghetti / white noodles)
  • 2 small bunches bok choy (or spinach)
  • chopped peanuts, for topping
  • chopped scallions, optional

Instructions

Cook the pork

  1. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat.

  2. Add ground pork and brown until fully cooked, breaking it up as it cooks.

  3. Add garlic, hoisin sauce, Shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, five spice powder, and kimchi.

  4. Cook until most liquid has evaporated and the pork is well-coated. Set aside.

Mix the sauce

  1. In a bowl, whisk together sesame paste, dark soy sauce, sugar, five spice powder, white pepper, Szechuan chili sauce, chili crisp, and hot noodle water.

  2. Taste and adjust (more noodle water to loosen, more chili crisp for heat).

Cook noodles + blanch greens

  1. Cook noodles according to package directions.

  2. Before draining, reserve at least 1/2 cup hot noodle water.

  3. Blanch bok choy (or spinach) in noodle water for 30–60 seconds, then drain.

Assemble

  1. Add noodles to bowls and toss with sauce until coated.

  2. Top with pork mixture and greens.

  3. Finish with chopped peanuts and scallions. Serve immediately.

Equipment

Notes

  • Spice Level: This recipe is intentionally spicy. If you’re spice-sensitive, start with 1/4 cup chili crisp and add more to taste.
  • Noodle Water Tip: The hot noodle water helps the sauce cling to the noodles and creates a smooth texture.
  • Substitutions:
    • No bok choy? Use spinach.
    • No Hokkien noodles? Spaghetti works surprisingly well.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: stove top, Wok Cooking
  • Cuisine: Chinese American, Chinese-Inspired

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you share on Instagram, tag me @cheersjennsmith—I’ll feature your creations in my stories!

Find it online: https://www.jenn-smith.com/dan-dan-noodles-anyone-can-make/