Tantanmen Recipe (Dandan Noodles) | Cooking with Dog

sesame paste

🥗Healthier: tahini

💰Cheaper: peanut butter

Tahini provides a similar nutty flavor with fewer calories.

ground pork

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground turkey is leaner while ground beef is often more affordable.

chili oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil with chili flakes

💰Cheaper: hot sauce

Hot sauce can provide similar heat at a lower cost.

ramen noodles

🥗Healthier: whole wheat noodles

💰Cheaper: spaghetti

Spaghetti can substitute in a pinch and is usually cheaper.

Add vegetable oil to a pan and turn on the burner.

Place ground pork into the heated pan and cook thoroughly, stir-frying until the pork completely turns white and the juices run clear.

Add chopped garlic and ginger root; stir-fry until fragrant.

Add tianmianjiang (sweet bean sauce) and soy sauce; distribute evenly and continue to stir to avoid burning.

Add sake and reduce the liquid; then place the meat mixture onto a plate.

In a bowl, combine white sesame paste, soy sauce, and vinegar; press the mixture with a spatula to mix thoroughly and avoid separation.

Add chopped long green onion and hot chili oil to the soup base mixture.

In a pot of boiling water, add sesame oil.

Cut the bottom of the bok choy, detach the outer leaves, and cut the leaves into 3 pieces; place the firm stalks into the pot followed by the leafy part, then remove and place onto a plate.

Combine Chinese-style chicken stock and soy milk in a pot; heat on the lowest possible heat and lightly stir.

Place fresh ramen noodles into the same pot of boiling water and lightly loosen with chopsticks.

Pour the heated chicken stock into a bowl, gently combining with the soup base.

Using a mesh strainer, remove excess water from the noodles thoroughly, then place the noodles into the bowl.

Place bok choy onto the noodles, add the meat mixture next to the vegetables, and drizzle on hot chili oil to taste.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: