This is a dish I developed from living in Vietnam and traveling around Asia. Heavily influenced by the cold noodle salads of central Vietnam, the Szechwan region of China’s Dan Dan noodles and a touch of Thai. A bowl of spicy deliciousness. The chili jam, a staple of Da Nang cuisine, and chili oil from Szechwan give the dish a sweet and spicy kick. The roasted chili peanuts provide a nutty, earthy undertone. While the fresh herbs elevate the dish to a place of divinity. I’ve made the dish with both rice and wheat noodles and I’ve found rice vermicelli to be my favorite. It is a well rounded dish with a healthy kick of spice.
A bit complicated compared to the other recipes you’ll find here. But I think it is well worth it. Many of the main components can be made ahead of time for a quick finish later. A great wow addition to a dinner party with friends, or an alternative to ordering any noodle take out.
Da Dang Nang Noodles
Equipment
- Wok
- Pot
- Pasta Basket
- Bowls for serving
Ingredients
Ground Pork Mixture
- 1 pound Ground Pork I usually ground my own and use pork belly, though pork shoulder or but would work just as well. I like the extra fattiness of the belly. You can also substitute beef, but it will have a slightly less rich flavor.
- 1 2" Lap xuong / cheong,, skin removed and roughly chopped. A Vietnamese / Chinese fermented and dried sausage.
- 1 tbsp Fresh chopped garlic I prefer to use the small Asian variety, though it may not be widely available in the states. One thing I learned cooking in Thai kitchens is that if the garlic bulbs are small enough yo don't have to peel the garlic. the paper thin skin just melts away in the saute.
- 2 tbsp Chopped shallot Again I usually use the small Asian Shallots, but any will do fine.
- 1 tbsp Chopped fresh galangal or ginger I would prefer galangal, you may can find it in a local Asian grocer. Always use fresh, never powdered. It really is a dish breaker.
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce Not sweet soy. This will add a touch of color and a little salty umami to the dish.
- 2 tbsp Oyster sauce This will again add some saltiness and Umami. You will notice the dish has little to no straight salt in the recipe. The individual components include enough seasoning to make the dish perfect.
- 2 tbsp Fish Sauce This has become a pretty common ingredient to procure across the US. I use a Chin Su brand in Vietnam, but usually use three crabs in the states.
The Bowl
- 1 package Rice vermicelli Cooked per package instructions, rinsed in cold water, and reserved for service.
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts Here you can chop them or leave them whole. It really depends on the size. If they are small enough I leave them whole.
- 1/4 cup Chilli Jam This is a must. I will add an additional recipe to make this at home if you can't find it. It adds a sweet spice to the dish that I just love.
- 1/4 cup Chili oil or crisp Some places call it chili crisp some call it chili oil. I make mine with a few modifications to make it more Southeast Asian than Chinese. I also use Szechuan peppercorns to give the dish that slight numbing effect. Additonally I put a link to this recipe at the bottom of the page.
- 1/4 cup sliced green onion Pretty straight forward
- 1/4 cup cleaned baby mint. leave the sprigs whole if you can. If you can only find large leaves then just chop them roughly.
- 1/4 cup cleaned baby basil Same as the mint, if you can only find large leaves then rough chop.
- 1/4 cup any fresh vegetable I often use cucumber and tomato. It gives the dish and added freshness with the mint and basil.
- 1 each lime cut in 4's
Instructions
Prepare the pork
- First begin with the pork. Place just enough cold oil in a hot wok to keep the pork from sticking while its fat begins to melt.
- Add the garlic, shallots, Lap Xuong, ginger, and pork.
- Stir and toss around the wok as the meat begins to brown and the aromatics begin open up.
- As the pork is almost done add the soy, oyster, and fish sauces.
- Reduce until the pork has absorbed most of the liquid and the mixture thickens slightly.
Building the bowl
- Place a pot of hot water on the stove with a pasta basket
- Place the Chilli Jam, Chili oil, pork mixture, and peanuts in the bottom of each bowl.
- divide the noodles into 4 servings.
- Flash heat each serving in the hot water with the pasta basket, be sure to let most of the water drain, and add to each bowl.
- Top with the herbs, sliced cucumber, and tomatoes
- Enjoy
Notes
In the different pictures are different variations. It is a dish I prepare relatively frequently. Sometimes I use Pho noodles, and sometimes even wheat noodles. Sometimes I may add sprouts. It really depends on what is fresh at the market. Always made with the base of chili crisp, jam, pork, and peanuts.
