30-Minute Dan Dan-Style Sesame Pork Noodles
Inspired by the famous Sichuan street food, these aromatic noodles combine savory ground pork in a rich sesame-soy sauce with crisp-tender steamed broccoli. The sauce melds tahini, rice vinegar, and chili garlic sauce for complex umami depth, while toasted peanuts add satisfying crunch. Perfect for weeknight dinners when you crave bold Asian flavors, this version uses readily available ingredients to capture the essence of traditional dan dan mian while adding nutritious vegetables.
Ingredients
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- ½ cup stock, any type
- ¼ cup soy sauce, low-sodium
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tsp tahini(optional)
- 2 tsp chili garlic sauce, more or less to tasteany hot sauce1:1none
heat level varies
- ¼ cup peanuts, chopped
- 12 oz broccoli, florets
- 6 oz dried ramen noodles, discard seasoning packets if using instant ramenspaghetti1:1none
different texture but works
- 2 stalks green onions, chopped, green and white parts separate
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil, for first cooking
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil, for second cooking
- 2 tsp water
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, for noodles
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 lb ground pork
Instructions
- 1
Heat wok or skillet with cooking oil over medium-high heat
- 2
Add broccoli and saute until bright green
- 3
Add water to pan and cover with lid
- 4
Steam broccoli until tender
- 5
Remove broccoli from heat and stir in sesame oil and lemon juice
- 6
Season broccoli with salt and pepper and set aside
- 7
Return wok to heat and add remaining cooking oil
- 8
Add pork and white parts of green onions to heated oil
- 9
Saute, breaking pork apart, until nearly cooked through
- 10
Stir sauce and pour over pork
- 11
Simmer until sauce thickens and pork is cooked
- 12
Reheat noodles if made ahead
- 13
Assemble bowls with noodles, pork, broccoli, green parts of green onions, and peanuts
Tips
Keep broccoli bright green by not overcooking - it should still have some bite when steamed.
Mix the sauce ingredients thoroughly before adding to prevent cornstarch from clumping in the hot pan.
Good to Know
Refrigerate assembled bowls up to 3 days. Store components separately for best texture.
Cook noodles and prepare sauce up to 2 days ahead. Reheat gently before serving.
Serve immediately while hot. Provide extra chili sauce and peanuts on the side.
Common Mistakes
Cook pork completely to avoid food safety issues.
Don't overcook broccoli to maintain bright color and crisp texture.
Substitutions
heat level varies
FAQ
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes, substitute the ground pork with crumbled firm tofu or mushrooms. Use vegetable stock instead of any type of stock.
How long will this keep in the refrigerator?
Store assembled bowls up to 3 days, though noodles may soften. For best quality, store components separately and assemble when ready to eat.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
The sauce and pork freeze well up to 3 months, but cooked noodles and broccoli don't freeze well due to texture changes.