Dan Dan noodles with chili and sesame

The name Dan Dan originates from the carrying poles street food vendors once used to transport their noodles and spices through the streets of Sichuan. Today, the dish has become a world-renowned classic, and it's not hard to see why. At the bottom of the bowl lies a sauce of sesame paste, light soy sauce, and fiery chili oil with the characteristic tingling mala seasoning, topped with a crispy fried topping of spiced minced pork. You mix it all together at the table, and each mouthful becomes a blend of creamy, salty, spicy, and nutty.

• Cuisine: Chinese
• Time: 30-35 minutes
• Servings: 4 people
• Difficulty: Medium

Instructions

1. Mix the sauce in the bottom of four bowls: sesame paste, light soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil, and a sprinkle of mala chili powder. Set the bowls aside.
2. Heat a little neutral oil in a wok or frying pan, and fry the minced pork over high heat. Let it brown properly so it becomes slightly crispy rather than just grey.
3. Add finely chopped garlic and grated ginger. Fry for another minute until fragrant.
4. Season the topping with a little dark soy sauce and a pinch of sugar, and keep it warm.
5. Cook the fresh wheat noodles according to package instructions. Reserve a cup of the cooking water just before draining them.
6. Pour a good splash of the starchy cooking water into each bowl with the sauce and whisk until the sauce is silky smooth.
7. Divide the steaming noodles over the sauce, and top with the crispy pork topping.
8. Garnish with sliced spring onions, roasted peanuts, and a little extra chili oil. Bring to the table and stir thoroughly before eating.

Tips

• A splash of the starchy cooking water binds the sauce and makes it smooth instead of sticky – do not skip this step.
• Make a vegetarian version with crumbled firm tofu instead of pork.
• If you don't have sesame paste, you can use tahini or unsweetened peanut butter. The taste will be slightly different but still good.
• Eat the noodles immediately – the sauce is best when everything is piping hot and the noodles have a bite.