Dan Dan noodles started out as classic Sichuan street food, named for the pole that street vendors would use to carry and sell them. The chewy noodles are topped with a savory, spicy sauce. This version of Dan Dan sauce comes from chef Wenling Peng, who partnered with California-based Rooted Fare to share the flavors of her Sichuan family recipes.
This sauce is rich and nutty from freshly roasted and ground peanuts, spicy (but not fiery) from aromatic Sichuan peppers, with an undercurrent of bright zing from fresh ginger and garlic. Serve it on noodles or as a dip for veggies.