Dan Dan noodles are part of the Chinese Sichuan cuisine and they are so packed with flavor! These noodles are usually made with meat but this is my take on making them Vegan using mushrooms and tofu. The chili oil and sauce mixture used to make these noodles give so much flavor to the dish. They are spicy with a hint of sweetness making them super delicious.

The first time I had Dan Dan noodles was on my first date with my husband and we went to Han Dynasty. Since then I am just a huge sucker for them! So this recipe came into being, I wanted to make them vegan friendly with ingredients available at home. It’s really easy to make and it’s such a treat!

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 10-15 mins

Cooking Time: 25-30 mins

Total Time: 40-45 mins

Ingredients: 

Sauce:

• 2.5 tbsp Soy sauce

• 1 tbsp Maple syrup

• 1 tbsp Chili Vinegar

• 2.5 tbsp Tahini 

• 1 tbsp Peanut butter (you can use chunky or creamy)

• 2 tbsp Sriracha 

• 1 tsp chili flakes- optional

• Salt as per taste

• 1/4 tsp pepper 

Assembly:

• 5-6 oz Hakka Noodles or any thick noodles

• 1/3-1/2 cup Chili oil

• 6-8 cloves of garlic minced

• 1 tsp ginger paste

• 5-6 Bella Mushrooms into small pieces (size of a corn kernel)

• 7-8 oz firm Tofu chopped into small pieces (size of a corn kernel)

• 4-5 Scallions chopped, whites and greens separated 

• 2 oz baby Spinach 

Directions: 

1. Sauce: Whisk all ingredients in a bowl and keep aside.

2. Boil noodles till al dente and keep aside.

3. Put a wok on medium heat. If you don't have a wok use any pan that can handle medium to high heat well without sticking.

4. Add chili oil and once warm add the minced garlic and ginger paste.

5. Cook it for 3-4 mins till fragrant. The oil may become foamy don’t worry, that’s good!

6. Add mushrooms and cook them for 4-6 mins till they’re cooked through. They might release water and that’s fine.

7. Add the whites of the scallions and half of the greens and give it a toss for a minute.

8. Add the tofu and toss it in mushrooms and oil till mixed well.

9. Add the spinach and cook for 2-3 mins till they wilt.

10. Add the sauce in and coat it all well. Cook for 1-2 mins.

11. Add the noodles and toss them in. Cook for 1-2 mins till tossed and mixed well.

12. Garnish with the scallion greens.

13. Serve and enjoy! These noodles taste amazing hot and even cold.

Notes/Tips:

• Make sure you use the chili oil as per the recipe. The spices in the oil add so much flavor. Ideally make it 2-3 days in advance. Strain the oil before using.

• Bella mushrooms are preferable but you can use white mushrooms.

• If you want you can crumble the tofu instead of chopping it.

• Don’t overcook the sauce as it can become too dry.

• If you feel the noodles are too dry add more chili oil.