Dan Dan Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles

from foodandwine.com
Dinner
70 min
8 servings
536 kcal / serving

This version of Dan Dan Noodles is a nutty noodle dish made with easy-to-find linguine noodles, sesame sauce, and ground pork.

Ingredients

  • 1 cupchicken stock
  • ½ cupsesame paste
  • ⅓ cupsoy sauce
  • 1 tablespoonbalsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoongranulated sugar
  • 1 ¾ teaspoonsground cinnamon (such as cassia)
  • 2 tablespoonsolive oil
  • ⅓ cuproasted unsalted peanuts, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 1 poundground pork (preferably coarsely ground)
  • 2 tablespoonscornstarch
  • 2 tablespoonsshaoxing wine
  • 2 teaspoonsworcestershire sauce
  • 6 tablespoonssoy sauce, divided
  • 2 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 1 largeyellow onion, finely chopped
  • 4garlic cloves, minced
  • 1can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 cupchicken stock
  • 1 tablespoongranulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoonschinese five-spice powder
  • ¼ teaspoonground cinnamon (such as cassia)
  • 3scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
  • 8 headsbaby bok choy (about 3 inches long), halved lengthwise
  • 1 poundfresh linguine or 12 ounces dried linguine

Directions

  1. 1

    Make the sesame sauce Whisk together chicken stock and sesame paste in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cinnamon.

  2. 2

    Heat oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium. Add sesame paste mixture. Bring to a simmer, stirring often. Simmer, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer sesame sauce to a large bowl; stir in peanuts. Wash and dry wok or skillet.

  3. 3

    Make the spiced pork Stir together pork, cornstarch, Shaoxing wine, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 cup soy sauce in a medium bowl until well combined.

  4. 4

    Heat oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add pork mixture; cook, stirring constantly to crumble into small pieces, until browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, stock, sugar, Chinese five-spice powder, cinnamon, and remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until liquid is mostly reduced, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in scallions.

  5. 5

    Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high. Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside. Cook bok choy until bright green and tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bok choy to bowl of ice water to cool for 2 minutes; drain well, and set aside. Return pot of water to a boil over medium-high. Cook linguine according to package directions for al dente. Drain well.

  6. 6

    Add hot linguine to bowl with sesame sauce; toss until well coated. Divide linguine evenly among serving bowls. Top with evenly divided spiced pork and bok choy. Garnish with peanuts and scallions. Serve immediately.