Danzai Noodles
Danzai noodles, originating from Tainan, Taiwan, is a flavorful noodle soup featuring a savory ground pork mixture and a rich broth, often made with shrimp shells for depth. It's a beloved street food known for its comforting taste and satisfying texture.
🧂 Ingredients
- 10 each Large shrimp(shells and heads reserved for broth, deveined)
- 6 cups Chicken or pork stock
- 1 pound Fresh or dried Chinese wheat noodles
- 1 pound Ground pork
- 4 each Shallots(minced)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 4 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Rice wine
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon White pepper
- 2 tablespoons Oil
- 3 stalks Green onions(chopped, for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon Asian black rice vinegar(for drizzling)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Place shrimp shells and heads in a pot with the stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour, to create a flavorful broth. Strain the broth, discarding shells and heads.
- 2
Season the shrimp with salt and white pepper. Add them to the strained broth and cook for about 2 minutes until just cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- 3
In a separate pan, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté minced shallots and garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add ground pork and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.
- 4
Stir in soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, salt, and white pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- 5
Cook noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- 6
To assemble, divide the cooked noodles among four bowls. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles. Top with a generous portion of the ground pork mixture. Garnish with chopped green onions and a single cooked shrimp. Drizzle with black rice vinegar.
💡 Tip: Ensure the broth is hot when serving to maintain the dish's warmth and flavor.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using shrimp with heads and shells significantly enhances the broth's flavor.
- ✓Don't overcook the noodles; they should be al dente.
- ✓Adjust seasoning of the pork mixture to your preference.
🔄 Variations
- Add blanched bean sprouts or a hard-boiled egg as additional toppings.
- For a richer broth, you can add dried shiitake mushrooms during the simmering process.