Easy Homemade Tantanmen [15-Minute Tan Tan Ramen Recipe]

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.

Finely cut the white part of the green onion, saving half for later garnish.

Heat a frying pan on medium and add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.

Once the pan is hot, add 150 grams of ground pork mince with a pinch of salt and pepper, frying until browned.

Add half of the chopped green onion, 1 tablespoon of Sichuan chili paste, 1 teaspoon of ginger paste, 1 teaspoon of garlic paste, a pinch of sugar, and a dash of soy sauce to the browned pork. Mix and fry until there's no more liquid.

Put a lid on the pork mixture to keep it warm.

Prepare the broth by mixing 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of ground sesame seeds, quarter teaspoon of rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon of chili oil, and 2 tablespoons of Chinese sesame paste in a bowl.

If using substitutes, replace Chinese sesame paste with smooth peanut butter, and use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar.

For the noodles, boil a pot of water and prepare 220 grams of fresh ramen noodles (or 110 grams of dry noodles).

Add 4 teaspoons of Chinese chicken stock powder or 1 no chicken stock cube to 600 milliliters of freshly boiled water to make the soup.

If using dry noodles, start cooking them now, setting a timer for 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions.

In the last minute of cooking the noodles, add 1 whole pak choy to the boiling water.

Pour the chicken stock into each bowl, then transfer the cooked noodles and spicy pork mince on top, garnishing with the remaining green onion and extra chili oil if desired.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary