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Read MorePaleo Dan Dan Noodles (Paleo, Whole30)
http://www.MelJoulwan.com/2019/07/22/paleo-dan-dan-noodles/
Dan Dan Noodles are one of the most popular street foods in the Sichuan (a.k.a. Szechuan) province of southwestern China. The cuisine of the region is known for its bold flavors, with lots of garlic, chiles, and Sichuan pepper.
These are colloquially known as ‘noodles on a pole.’
That refers to the way noodle vendors used to sell their wares. They carried a pole across their shoulders: a basket of noodles on one end, a bucket of spicy sauce on the other. Traditionally, the noodles swim in a face-tingling broth and are topped with minced pork and preserved vegetables.
This fast, paleo version uses zucchini noodles for slurping, cornichons for an acidic tang, and a separate chili oil so you can customize the heat.
Dan Dan Noodles
Serves 2-4 | Total time: 40–45 minutes | Whole30 compliant
Ingredients:
Noodles:
2 pounds zucchini
2 teaspoons salt
Chili Oil:
1/2 cup light-tasting (not extra-virgin) olive or avocado oil
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1/2-inch piece of cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
Pork:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2-inch piece fresh ginger
1 jalapeño
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 pounds ground pork
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauce:
2 tablespoons tahini or almond butter
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup coconut aminos
2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
pinch coconut sugar (omit for Whole30)
1/3 cup cornichons
garnish: a handful cashews, 2–3 scallions
Directions:
1
Make the noodles. Julienne the zucchini with the spiralizer. Place the noodles in a colander and toss them with the salt until the strands are lightly coated. Set the colander in the sink to drain while you prep the other ingredients. (Handy video for how to julienne zucchini right here!)
2
Make the chili oil. In a small saucepan, combine the oil, peppercorns, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes. Warm the oil over medium-low heat while you cook.
3
Cook the pork. Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, 2 minutes. While the oil heats, peel and grate the ginger, mince the jalapeño, and peel and crush the garlic. Add the aromatics to the oil and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Crumble the pork into the pan, season with the salt and pepper, and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it’s browned, 7–10 minutes.
4
Make the sauce. While the pork cooks, place the tahini, sesame oil, Chinese five-spice, and black pepper in a small bowl and mix with a fork. Add the coconut aminos, vinegar, and sugar; stir until combined. Chop the cornichons and set them aside.
5
Put it together. Add the sauce to the meat in the skillet and stir to coat the meat. Add the cornichons to the skillet, toss to combine, and transfer the meat mixture to a large bowl. Reheat the skillet over medium-high heat. Rinse the zucchini noodles under running water, drain well, and squeeze them dry in a clean dish towel. Add the noodles to the heated pan and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until hot. Return the meat to the pan and toss with two wooden spoons to combine; allow it to heat through. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cinnamon stick from the chili oil and discard it. Set the oil aside to cool. Chop the cashews and scallions.
6
To serve, divide the noodles among individual bowls and top with a drizzle of chili oil, then sprinkle with cashews and scallions.
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Love the chili oil – stay cool!
I have lost count of how may of your gorgeous recipes I have tried over the years, LOVE your cooking! One question remains though……how many centilitres are a cup in your opinion? I seem to always get different answers from people, English, (Swedish) and others😉 z
Hooray! So glad you’ve been enjoying the recipes!
I have no opinion on centilitres… sorry! I had to Google it, so… 26.66 centiliters per cup, which I would round up to 27. However, in my recipes, a little difference here and there in measuring doesn’t matter. Baking is very precise, so weight is better for measuring than volume. But in my recipes, it doesn’t matter if you use 26, 27, or 28 centiliters for 1 cup 🙂
Thanks you for getting back to me sooooooo quickly🤗 I’ll continue as I’m doing now then…..a little bit of this and a little bit of that! Please keep up your good work Mel 😍
Delicious. Appreciate what you do.
I’ve made this recipe twice. The flavors are amazing, my guests loved the dish.
one of my favorite recipes, thanks for the awesome ideas that make paleo more exciting!
I’m so glad you like this one! It’s one of our favorites, too!