Dan Dan Noodles

(from Lucianolinda’s recipe box)

Source: Chicago Tribune - Leah Eskin

Serves 2 people

Categories: pasta dishes, pasta sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch baby bok choy
  • Salt
  • Sesame oil
  • 1/4 lb. fresh or dried Chinese noodles
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp. sunflower seed butter (see notes)
  • 1 Tbsp. Sambal (see notes)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. rice wine (or other) vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. ground star anise
  • 1/4 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1/4 tsp. ground Sichuan OR ground black pepper
  • Pinch ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 lb. boneless pork sirloin, cubed
  • 1 1/2 tsp. canola oil
  • 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • Chile oil
  • 2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 Tsp. finely chopped green onions

Directions

  1. Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add bok choy; cook until leaves wilt bright green and stems turn tender, 2 to 3 minutes. using tongs, pull out boy choy, rinse under cool water. Sprinkle with a little salt, drizzle with a little sesame oil.
  2. Add noodles to the hot water; cook until tender but firm. Scoop out 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Drain noodles; rinse under cool water. Toss with a little salt and sesame oil.
  3. Blend together 2 Tbsp. of the reserved cooking water, soy sauce, sunflower seed butter, Sambal, sugar, vinegar, anise, coriander, Sichuan and cinnamon.
  4. Toss pork cubes in the food processor. Pulse several times.
  5. heat canola oil in a wide heavy skillet. Add pork; cook until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir in ginger and garlic; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. pour in sauce; cook 1 minute. Add 1/4 cup reserved water (or more) to achieve a thin sauce that isn’t sticky. Pull pan off heat.
  6. Pour 1 Tbsp. chile oil (or to taste) into each of 2 shallow bowls. (Use less for those who are spice averse) Add pork sauce to each bowl. Scatter on sesame seeds. Heap noodles on top of sauce. Settle a few bok choy stems alongside. Sprinkle on green onions. Let guest swirl and dip in.

  7. Notes: Look for sunflower seed butter near the peanut butter( which can be used as a substitute, if necessary.) or on the “natural” foods aisle. Sambal, a paste made from red chiles, is available in the Asian-food section of the grocery store.

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