DAN DAN SAUCE RECIPES

Steps:

• Make chili oil: Fit a small saucepan with a candy thermometer. Add vegetable oil and Sichuan peppercorns and heat to 325°. Turn off heat and add red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and five-spice powder. Let oil cool completely. Make pork: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat vegetable oil. Add pork, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. Cook until meat is deeply golden and crispy, then add hoisin sauce, vinegar, and soy sauce. Cook until all liquid has evaporated. Make sauce: In a large bowl, whisk to combine all ingredients. Cook noodles according to package instructions and add to bowl with the sauce, tossing to coat noodles in the sauce. Divide noodles between serving dishes and top each with pork. Garnish with cilantro, toasted peanuts, and green onions, and drizzle with more chili oil, if desired.

Steps:

• Toast Sichuan peppercorns in a small skillet over medium-high heat, tossing often, until slightly darkened and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a spice mill or mortar and pestle and let cool; finely grind.
• Stir ground Sichuan peppercorns, sesame paste, vinegar, sugar, 2 Tbsp. chile crisp, and 2 Tbsp. soy sauce in a small bowl to combine; set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add pork, five-spice powder, and remaining 1 tsp. soy sauce to pan, breaking meat up into pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook, undisturbed, until it begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir and continue to cook, breaking up meat into smaller pieces, until cooked through, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add Sichuan peppercorn mixture; set aside.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until 1 minute short of al dente. Using tongs, transfer pasta to skillet with sauce and pour in ½ cup pasta cooking liquid. Bring to a simmer and cook, tossing gently, until sauce is creamy and clings to pasta, about 1 minute. Drizzle in remaining 1 Tbsp. chile crisp.
• Divide pasta among plates and top with peanuts and scallions.