Dan Dan Noodles

Chef Angela Hernandez joins Good Day from the newest restaurant called Fine China at The Statler Hotel. She makes a spicy Asian noodle dish.
 

Dan Dan Noodles

Pork Ragu 
2 oz. Grapeseed Oil
1 lb. Ground Pork
2 tbsp. Chili Oil
4 tsp. Minced Garlic
1 tbsp. Sliced Green Onion
1.5 tsp. Chicken Powder (Chicken Bouillon)
2 tsp. Doubanjiang (Chili bean sauce) 
1 tsp. Fermented Chili Paste
2.5 oz. Shoaoxing Wine
5 tbsp. Hoisin Sauce
1.75 tbsp. Black Vinegar
1 tbsp. Tamari
1 tbsp. Sesame Oil
0.5 oz. Chicken Stock
TT Ground Sichuan Peppercorn
TT Ground White Pepper

In a wok or sauce pot, over medium high heat and add the grapeseed oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Add in the ground pork and cook until light brown and crumbled. Remove from heat and drain the excess oil. Reserve the meat.

In the same wok, add the chili oil over medium heat and then add the garlic and green onion to sweat. Once translucent add the doubanjiang, chili paste, Sichuan pepper, white pepper and chicken powder. Cook out to release the oils and aromatic.

Add the pork back to the wok and deglaze with the Shoaxing wine. Add the hoisin, black vinegar, and tamari. Simmer on medium high heat for a couple minutes and then add the sesame oil and chicken stock.

Simmer for a few minutes until the liquid tightens up a bit.

Sesame Sauce
3.3 oz. Sesame Paste
0.5 cup Peanut Butter
5 tbsp. Tamari (a kind of Japanese soy sauce preferably gluten-free and low sodium) 
5 tbsp. Black Vinegar
5 tsp. Chili Oil
0.5 cup Water
2.5 tsp. Granulated Sugar
2.5 tsp. Fermented Chili Paste
TT Kosher Salt
TT Sichuan Peppercorn

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined and smooth.

Composing the Dish
1 lb. Wheat Noodles (Thick or Thin)
1 lb. Pork Ragu
8 oz. Sesame Sauce
4 oz. Crushed Peanuts
4 oz. Sliced Green Onion
4 oz. Chili Oil

Cook noodles in boiling water according to package instructions. Once done, shock immediately in ice water and drain well.

Arrange noodles in a bowl and top with ragu and sesame sauce.

Garnish with the crushed peanuts, green onion and chili oil.

Enjoy!