Dan Dan Noodles

Ingredients:

200 grams (7 ounces) noodles
200 grams (7 ounces) ground pork
2 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons chili oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Scallions, chopped, to taste
Sichuan peppercorns, ground, to taste
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt, to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the ingredients. Rinse the ground pork and drain well. Add the ginger, garlic, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and salt, and stir to combine. Marinate for 15 minutes.
   Chop the scallions and set aside.
2. Cook the noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add salt and noodles, and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Make the sauce. In a bowl, whisk together the tahini, chili oil, vinegar, soy sauce, Sichuan peppercorns, and sugar until smooth.
4. Fry the pork. Heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated pork and cook until browned and fragrant.
5. Assemble the noodles. Divide the noodles among serving bowls. Top with the fried pork, sauce, and scallions.
6. Serve immediately.

Tips:

The key to Dan Dan Noodles is the sauce. Adjust the ratio of tahini, chili oil, vinegar, soy sauce, and Sichuan peppercorns to your liking.
For a spicier dish, add more chili oil.
You can also use ground beef, chicken, or other meat in place of the pork.
To make the noodles more chewy, soak them in alkaline water for 30 minutes before cooking.

Common mistakes:

The sauce is too thin: If the sauce is too thin, add some toasted sesame seeds or crushed peanuts to thicken it.
The noodles are overcooked: Overcooked noodles will be mushy. Cook the noodles until al dente.
The pork is not flavorful: Cook the pork over medium-high heat and don’t overcook it.

I hope this helps!