These Faux Dan Dan Noodles are inspired by the spicy stir fry dish and are a great weeknight dinner with ground beef, chili oil and bok choy.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Extra-lean ground beef – ground pork or chicken would also be good in this recipe but will have a different flavour. For a meatless option use vegan crumbles, finely chopped mushrooms or tofu.
- Sambal oelek – Sriracha would also add spice.
- Spaghetti – dried white noodles would work but are hard to find. Try using ramen noodles, mein noodles or rice noodles instead.
- Bok choy – green cabbage or another leafy green vegetable would be good in this recipe.
- Scallions – chives or shallots will provide a similar flavour.
- Sesame seeds – black or white sesame seeds would both be good or you can leave these out altogether.
- Peanuts – leave these out altogether if you’re allergic to peanuts or don’t have any on hand.
Sauce
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- Soy sauce – tamari or coconut aminos are great gluten-free substitutes for soy sauce.
- Hoisin sauce – oyster sauce, black bean sauce or teriyaki sauce will all provide a similar taste.
- Sesame oil – you can use a neutral cooking oil like canola or avocado oil, but it won’t provide the same flavour as the sesame oil.
- Chili oil – use a combination of corn or peanut oil and cayenne pepper instead. Adjust the amount based on your spice tolerance.
- Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best. Jarred minced garlic or garlic powder will work in a pinch.
- Five spice powder – if you don’t have five spice powder, use a blend of 1 star anise, ¼ tsp. cinnamon, ¼ tsp. fennel seeds, ¼ tsp. ground cloves and ¼ tsp. pepper.
How to make dan dan noodles
- Brown the ground beef.
- Sauté the bok choy.
- Add in the cooked noodles and sauce.
- Toss to coat.
- Cook until the sauce thickens.
- Garnish and serve!
What kind of noodles to use
Typically, a thin wheat noodle is used to make this dish. You may be able to find dan dan noodles in the refrigerated section of an Asian market. Otherwise, any thin wheat noodle will work.
My recipe uses spaghetti noodles because they are easy to find, but you could also use any of the following:
- Mein noodles – like lo mein or chow mein
- Ramen – just the noodles, not the cheap flavored packages
- Rice noodles – a dried white noodle that makes this dish gluten-free
Frequently Asked Questions
Dan dan noodles started as a popular street food in the Sichuan province of China. Street vendors would carry a long bamboo pole called a “dan,” which is where the dish got its name. On each end of the pole was a basket; one basket held all of the ingredients, while the other held the cookware used to make the dish. They consist of a spicy sauce over noodles with veggies and minced pork (for this version I used beef).
This dish is spicy and super flavourful with lots of umami. If you don’t want your noodles to be too spicy, adjust the amount of chili oil you use – although the spice is part of what makes this dish so delicious!
The sauce I used for this recipe is super simple. It uses soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, garlic and five spice powder. If you don’t have any five spice powder, you can use a blend of star anise, cinnamon, fennel seeds, ground cloves and pepper. Easy-peasy!
This noodle dish is high in protein, low in fat and calories, and contains lots of vitamins and minerals. If you aren’t gluten restricted, using whole wheat noodles is a healthier option than white pasta.
Storing and reheating
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to eat, just reheat this dish in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop. Make sure to sprinkle some water over top before reheating so the noodles don’t dry out.
Another great thing about this dish is how easy it is to meal prep! You can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in a jar in the refrigerator. Once refrigerated, it will last for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing this recipe
For best results, cooked noodles and sauce should be frozen separately. Otherwise, the noodles will turn to mush when thawed and reheated. If you’d like to freeze the full dish, cook the noodles for less time so that they are still slightly firm (al dente). This way, they should be closer to the correct texture when you’re ready to eat.
To freeze the noodles, store individual portions in airtight containers or freezer-safe Ziploc bags. Be sure to squeeze all the air out of the bags to prevent ice crystals. This recipe will keep for up to 3 months in the coldest part of the freezer.
More Asian-inspired noodle recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on storing the leftovers.
- I get all my grass-fed ground beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Order some five spice powder online.
Faux Dan Dan Noodles {Takeout-Inspired}
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp sambal oelek or Sriracha
- 1 lb spaghetti (you can also use dried white noodles but they are harder to find. Ramen noodles are also a great substitute)
- 2 cups chopped bok choy
- 1 bunch scallions, sliced
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- Peanuts, for garnish
Sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp chili oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp five spice powder (note: if you don't have five spice powder, you can use a blend of 1 star anise, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp fennel seeds, 1/4 tsp ground cloves & 1/4 tsp black or white pepper)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling water for 9-11 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over med-high heat. Meanwhile, mix together ingredients for sauce.
- Add bok choy and sautee for 1 min until slightly wilted, then add cooked noodles and stir fry sauce to skillet, tossing to coat and sauteeing over high heat for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and stir in scallions.
- Serve in large bowls then garnish with sesame seeds and peanuts. Serve and enjoy!
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