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Dandan noodles

Hong Kong–style dandan noodle soup (擔擔湯麵) from a Sichuanese restaurant in Shanghai, with red chili oil, pork, and spring onions
Alternative names	Dandanmian, Tantanmen
Type	Noodles, noodle soup
Course	Main
Place of origin	China
Region or state	Sichuan
Serving temperature	Hot, cold
Main ingredients	Chinese noodles, chili oil
Variations	Jinsimian
Media: Dandan noodles

Dandan noodles (traditional Chinese: 擔擔麵; simplified Chinese: 担担面; dandanmian, literally 'carrying pole noodles') is a Chinese noodle dish originating from Sichuan cuisine. It consists of a spicy sauce, usually containing pickled vegetables such as zha cai (lower mustard stems) or ya cai (upper mustard stems), as well as chili oil, Sichuan pepper, minced pork, and scallions served over noodles. The dish can either be served dry or as a noodle soup.

Dandanmian originated in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. The original dish is served with no soup in a small bowl covered in a mala meat sauce and pickled vegetables, with peanuts and spring onions served on top. The soup variant is from Hong Kong and is more widespread across the rest of China but it is uncommon in Sichuan itself where the traditional style dominates.

Sesame paste or peanut butter is sometimes added, and occasionally replaces the spicy sauce, usually in the American Chinese style of the dish. In this case, dandanmian is considered a variation of ma jiang mian (麻醬麵), sesame sauce noodles, although ma jiang mian usually refers to a specific Shanghainese dish.

Origin and name

Dandan refers to a type of carrying pole that was used by walking street vendors who sold the dish to passers-by. The pole was carried over the shoulder, with two baskets containing noodles and sauce attached at either end. As the noodles were affordable due to their low cost, the local people gradually came to call them dandan noodles, referencing the street vendors. The name translates directly as 'noodles carried on a pole', but may be better translated as 'peddler's noodles'.

A variety of English spellings are used. The first word may be either dandan, dundun or tantan. The last word mian (noodle) may also be spelled mein in Cantonese pronunciation.

Related dishes

The same sauce is frequently served over bang bang chicken, and on steamed, meat-filled dumplings in another Sichuan dish called suanla chaoshou.

The dish was introduced to Japan by Sichuanese chef Chen Kenmin. It is known as tantan-men in Japanese, formally written 担担麺, as in Chinese, but often written with an iteration mark as 担々麺, or with 坦 instead of 担. It is sometimes considered a form of ramen.

Jinsimian

Jinsimian (金絲麵) or "gold thread noodle" is a variation of the dandan noodles, which was invented by chef Li Hong-kai (李紅凱) in 1989. Using a special kneading technique, Li was able to make a dough consistency that does not become mushy when cooking even if cut really thin. The noodles are cut so thin they can be threaded through a needle. Li was registered in Guinness World Records for the most noodles (45) threaded through a needle, which was beaten by Li Enhai in 2010 by adding two more threads. The latter also holds the record of the thinnest noodle at 0,18 mm. As of 2024, there are other chefs as well, who cook the dandan dish using jinsimian.

Gallery

• Dandanmian from Chengdu
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• Japanese tantanmen
• Japanese soupless tantanmen
• Store selling tantanmen in Tokyo

See also

• Chinese noodles
• List of Chinese dishes
• Ta-a noodles

• China
• Food

References

1. Schaller, G.B. (1994). The Last Panda. University of Chicago Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-226-73629-7.
2. Alisa Joyce and David Barba (1990-10-14). "The Spot for Hot Pot, the Culinary Delights of Sichuan Province". The Washington Post.
3. ^ Kraig, Bruce; Sen, Colleen Taylor, eds. (2013). Street Food around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-59884-954-7.
4. Dunlop, Fuchsia (2008). Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper. W. W. Norton & Co. ISBN 978-0-393-06657-9.
5. "中国の本場のタンタン麺は汁なし。汁ありタンタン麺はなぜ日本で広まったのか？（中島恵） - エキスパート". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-02.
6. ^ "Jinsi Mian – die dünnste handgemachte Nudel aus China" (in German). CRI.cn. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
7. "Most strings of noodle threaded". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
8. "Thinnest handmade noodle". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
9. "The special 'gold' Chinese noodle that's thin as a thread". South China Morning Post. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 2024-03-15.

External links

• Authentic Dan Dan Mian recipe at KitchenChick.com
• Americanized Dan-Dan Noodles at FoodNetwork.com

• Chinese noodle dishes
• Sichuan cuisine
• Hong Kong noodle dishes
• Spicy foods