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Easy and healthy Paleo Dan Dan Noodles in creamy sesame sauce topped with crispy pork crumbles and blanched bok choy vegetables to satisfy your cravings and keep your tummy happy and healthy. Don’t miss this super YUM and DELICIOUS recipe! You are going to LOVE It ! :))
And if you are looking for an authentic version of dan dan, check out my Taiwanese dan dan noodles and Garlic chili noodles!
I’m so happy to share a low-carb and easy version of the Paleo Dan Dan Noodles recipe with you today. After several test runs, I finally was able to recreate my childhood comfort food for you! Dan dan noodles have many versions across Asia and the version I share is influenced by Taiwan and Japan. It’s lighter, less spicy (or non-spicy at all), and creamy and delicious.
Check out how delicious and easy it is to make a bowl of creamy delicious Paleo Dan Dan Noodles!
What is dan dan noodles ?
擔擔麵 [Dàn dàn miàn] is a noodle dish originally from Sichuan province. It consists of preserved mustard greens, pickles, and crispy pork crumbles (pork mince) in chili oil sauce. The Taiwanese version (as well as Chinese American version) adapted a less spicy, creamier, and slightly sweeter taste and used sesame paste (Tahini) and/or peanut butter to create a creamy buttery texture.
In the street food culture in Taiwan you often find that dan dan noodles are served in bowls in small quantities, almost like an appetizer. People enjoy them sometimes between meals or use them as a quick pick-me-up and go meal to satisfy hunger. After several trial runs to make it Paleo and Whole30 and without diverting too far away from its original flavor, I can finally rest and say I’m satisfied with my take on the Paleo Dan Dan Noodles.
Chinese food (as well as Taiwanese food) emphasizes taste, flavor tone (one unified theme to make the dish stand out), and texture. Creamy buttery dan dan noodle sauce goes superbly well with crisped-up meat crumbles. Because the dish is influenced by Sichuan cuisine, Sichuan flower peppercorns are often used in the dish to give a lemony and tingly effect in the mouthfeel.
Similar to my Paleo Sichuan Dry-Fried Green Beans, I crisped up the pork mince to add protein and deliciousness to the dish. You can swap pork mince for chicken or turkey if preferred. Sichuan peppercorns are a must-have in the kitchen if you are an enthusiast in Asian cuisine and I bet you are if you are reading this blog post. If you can’t order online or can’t have peppercorns, I provided an alternative work around below that will give you an approximate flavor to sub Sichuan peppercorns.
Easy Paleo Dan Dan Noodles
So now if you crave a good bowl of creamy sesame dan dan noodles you have no excuse not to make one ! And if you love my recipes be sure to give a 5-star rating and leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you !
Paleo Dan Dan Noodles
Video
Ingredients
- 1 fat shape zucchini or 2 medium ones spiralized
- ½ to ¾ lbs ground pork or chicken or turkey
- 1 + 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil
- Avocado oil sauté use
- Almond slices roughly chopped (optional, serving use)
Aromatics:
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 2-3 bulbs scallions chopped separate white and green parts
- ½ tbsp ginger finely chopped
- 1 to 1 ½ tbsp pickled cucumbers chopped
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns Ground it first if worry too much punch in mouthfeel. Alt. Use ¼ tsp ground black pepper + 2 tsp lemon zest
Dan dan zoodle sauce:
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 1 ½ tbsp cashew butter
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 fat garlic clove grated or crushed (use 2 cloves if like stronger garlicky flavor)
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil (or hot sesame oil)
- ¼ tsp cumin powder
- ⅛ tsp five spice powder
- 3 tbsp chicken or vegetable stock or water add more liquid if you prefer thinner sauce
Instructions
- Marinate ground pork with 1 tbsp coconut aminos + ½ tbsp sesame oil. Mix well and set aside in the fridge for 10-15 mins. Make dan dan zoodle sauce, mix well and set aside.
- Crisp up pork: Preheat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, when hot, lower the heat to medium. Add 2 tbsp avocado oil. Swirl the oil around the skillet. Add aromatics (garlic, white parts of scallions, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns). Season with a small pinch of salt and lightly sauté until fragrant (about 8-10 seconds). Add marinated ground pork. Keep sautéing until the pork breaks further up into finer pieces. Add chopped pickles and 1 tbsp coconut aminos. Sauté over medium heat and uncovered the skillet until the moisture content has evaporated and the ground pork gets crisp up but not burnt and almost close to fried bacon bits texture. Turn off the heat. Mix-in a handful of green parts of scallions (save some for topping). Set aside.
- Assemble: divide dan dan sauce into two large bowls. Add zucchini noodles, top with 2-3 tbsp crispy ground pork per serving bowl, chopped almonds, and green parts of scallions. Drizzle with a bit more hot sesame oil (optional) if you like. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How do you store leftovers of this dish?
Hi Zina, I’d pack the meat sauce separately from the sesame sauce. And only make spiralized zucchini noodles before serving. If you make the sauce ahead of time you’ll notice that it will get thicker. Just add a bit more water or broth to thin it a bit and it’ll be back to life :))
I was missing cumin and tahini (thought I had them both!) and this still turned out AMAZING. Didn’t know uncooked zoodles could be so delicious. Thanks!
This is the first recipe that I have tried from I Heart Umami and it was AMAZING! My boyfriend went back for seconds…and thirds… Needless to say, we had zero leftovers (and I doubled the recipe). Note: I did omit the pickles and the cumin. I also used Kohlrabi ‘noodles,’ because i prefer them to Zoodles (they never get soggy and have a lovely texture). I seriously cannot wait to try another recipe…
I’m so happy to hear that Sammy !! Thanks so much for sharing. I appreciate it ! XOXO !
Wow! So glad to find Dan Dan noodle recipe! Dan Dan noodle is absolutely one of my all time favorites and I am still new to paleo. This is the First paleo recipe I am excited to make! Serious!
Thanks so much ! So happy to hear that !!
I can’t wait to try this! What kind of spiralizer would you recommend using for the noodles? They look a lot thicker and rounder than the typical zucchini noodles I get out of just using a hand held spiralizer – any recommendations would help, thanks!!
Thanks, Stevie. I use paderno. Hope that helps :))
You always have me drooling when I come here. YUM!
Thanks so much Katja !
Love the background and the passion you enthuse in these marvellous dishes. It’s an education for me.Thanks again for sharing!
This looks so flipping good. And as always, the video was great!
What dreams are made of! This recipe, like all your others, a hit!
I’m often on my own for dinner (kids at clubs and husband working late) so I’m going to save this for one of my own ‘curl up on the sofa with a bowl of something tasty’ nights! Pinned for later. Love this recipe, thanks for posting it 🙂