Japanese Dan Dan Ramen (Sesame Cream Broth with Spicy Pork)
Quick answer
- Total time
- 45 min
- Level
- Medium
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Ingredients
- 10
About this dish
Tantanmen is the Japanese adaptation of Sichuan dan dan noodles, served as a ramen with a thick sesame-cream broth.
Read more
Ground pork is stir-fried with doubanjiang and spooned over the bowl along with chili oil. The sesame base gives the soup a dense, nutty body, while the chili oil adds a slow-building heat. Standard ramen noodles are used, paired with bok choy or scallions. Preparation takes about 45 minutes, with most of the effort going into building the sesame broth and seasoning the pork topping.
Ingredients
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Control
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and spread out 150 g ground pork.
Stir-fry for about 3 minutes until moisture cooks off and the edges brown, then add 1 tbsp doubanjiang and 1 tbsp soy sauce.
- 2Season
Cook for 2 more minutes so the seasoning clings to the pork and the texture turns crumbly.
If the doubanjiang starts to scorch, lower the heat to medium, then set the pork aside.
- 3Control
Set a pot over low heat and add 3 tbsp sesame paste and 1 tbsp miso.
Stir-fry for about 1 minute, just until glossy and fragrant, without letting the paste brown or stick.
- 4Control
Pour in 600 ml pork bone stock a little at a time, whisking until no lumps remain.
Simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until small bubbles rise and the broth feels creamy and full-bodied.
- 5Heat
Boil plenty of water in a separate pot and cook 2 servings of ramen noodles.
When the strands loosen and the center still has bounce, drain well and shake off excess water so the broth does not thin out.
- 6Finish
Place the noodles in bowls and ladle the hot sesame broth over them.
Divide the pork topping, 2 soft-boiled eggs, 20 g green onion, and 2 tbsp chili oil between the bowls, then serve immediately.
Practical Cooking Checks
The cues that matter most while cooking.
- Key technique
- Tantanmen layers ground pork over a thick sesame cream broth seasoned with spicy doubanjiang.
- Finish cue
- Divide the pork topping, 2 soft-boiled eggs, 20 g green onion, and 2 tbsp chili oil between the bowls, then serve immediately.
Troubleshooting While Cooking
Use these adjustments when the food is not behaving as expected.
- If the doubanjiang starts to scorch, lower the heat to medium, then set the pork aside.
Cooking decision evidence
Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.
This recipe
45min, 10 ingredients
Category median
35min, 9 ingredients
Based on 233 recipes
Use-up ingredient planner
Turn these ingredients into two more meals
The overlap excludes basic seasonings. Open the next recipe and your selected dishes will stay with you.
Dipping Ramen (Japanese Thick Noodles with Concentrated Dipping Broth)
Pork bone stock, Green onion
Sesame Spicy Tantanmen (Chinese Creamy Sesame Chili Oil Noodle Soup)
Sesame paste (or tahini), Chili oil
Korean Pollock Jeon (Egg-Battered Pan-Fried Pollock)
Green onion, Soft-boiled egg