Dan Dan-ish Noodles

I wanted to do something different with my tofu. This recipe from Serious Eats inspired me to try dan dan noodles, a favorite of mine. Along the way, I made a few modifications, mostly out of pragmatism. The effort started a few days before when I toasted some red pepper flakes and added them to sesame oil to make my own hot chili oil.

I couldn't find anything labeled Chinese wheat noodles at Buford Highway Farmers Market so I cooked some spaghetti. I added a little baking soda to give them stretch and springiness.

While that cooked, I fried some tofu as a substitute for pork.

Next came scallions and garlic.

I broke up some peanuts in the Ninja and threw them into the pan. I also added some rice vinegar and a few drops of soy sauce. The recipe called for a dark Chinese vinegar but I didn't want to invest in a bottle that I would use twice.

The result wasn't classic dan dan noodles but it was tasty and satisfying. The vinegar worked very well with the hot oil to give the dish some character. The peanuts and tofu combined to give a hearty meal.

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