Vegetarian Dan Dan Noodles with Crispy Tofu

Ingredients

• 8 oz noodles (noodles of choice)
• 1 block extra-firm tofu (crumbled)
• 2.5 tbsp corn flour (for coating tofu)
• 1 tbsp cooking oil (splash for frying tofu)
• 1.75 tbsp dark soy sauce (for tofu glaze)
• 1.5 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns (toasted and crushed)
• 3.5 garlic (cloves, minced)
• 1 inch ginger (knob, grated)
• 3.5 tsp gochugaru (or crushed red pepper flakes)
• 2.5 tsp sesame seeds (plus more for garnish)
• 1.75 tbsp sesame oil (heated until hot)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce (for the sauce)
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (for the sauce)
• 2 tbsp peanut butter (or sesame paste/tahini)
• 0.5 tbsp vinegar (e.g., Chinkiang black vinegar or rice vinegar)
• 0.5 tbsp sugar (optional)
• scallions (for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Cook your noodles of choice in boiling water until they are just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. 2

   Crumble one block of extra-firm tofu into a bowl. Add 2-3 tbsp of corn flour and toss until the tofu pieces are completely and evenly coated.

3. 3

   Heat a splash of oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the coated tofu and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are golden brown and crispy.

4. 4

   Stir in 1.5-2 tbsp of dark soy sauce, mixing well until the tofu chunks are dark, glossy, and well-coated. Remove from the pan and set aside.

5. 5

   In a dry pan, toast 1-2 tbsp of Sichuan peppercorns over medium heat until they become fragrant. Transfer them to a mortar and pestle and gently crush them to a fine consistency.

6. 6

   To a heatproof bowl, add the toasted and crushed peppercorns, 3-4 cloves of minced garlic, a grated knob of ginger, 3-4 tsp of gochugaru (or red pepper flakes), and 2-3 tsp of sesame seeds.

7. 7

   Heat 1.5-2 tbsp of sesame oil until very hot, then pour it over the ingredients in the heatproof bowl. Let it sizzle to release the aromatics.

8. 8

   Stir in the 3 tbsp of soy sauce (or a mix of regular and dark soy sauce), 2 tbsp of peanut butter (or sesame paste/tahini), 1/2 tbsp of vinegar, and 1/2 tbsp of sugar if using.

9. 9

   Mix the sauce thoroughly. Taste and adjust the flavors as desired, perhaps adding a splash of lime for acidity or more peanut butter for creaminess.

10. 10

    Assemble the dish by pouring the prepared sauce over the cooked noodles. Top with the crispy tofu crumble, sliced scallions, and extra sesame seeds.

Notes

You can swap the tofu for mushrooms if preferred. For the sauce base, peanut butter, Chinese sesame paste, or tahini all work well, though peanut butter provides the most common accessible creamy texture.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• vegetarian
• spicy
• noodles
• tofu
• Sichuan
• Asian
• quick dinner