Tan Tan Ramen (Tantamen)
Rich ramen inspired by Dan Dan noodles with creamy peanut sauce, seasoned soy mince, and fresh toppings. Ingredients Peanut Sauce 300 ml peanut butter (3 dl) 50 ml chili oil, preferably Lao Gan Ma (½ dl) 1 tbsp sesame oil (15 ml) 2 tbsp mirin (30 ml) 50 ml rice vinegar (½ dl) 100 ml Japanese soy sauce (1 dl) Seasoned Mince 400 g Anamma formable soy mince 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (30 ml) 4 spring onions 3 garlic cloves 1½ tbsp grated ginger (22.5 ml) 50 ml chili oil (½ dl) 2 tbsp mirin (30 ml) 2 tsp sesame oil 50 ml Japanese soy sauce (½ dl) Broth 1 liter water (1 L) 50 ml concentrated vegetable stock (½ dl) 50 ml soy drink (½ dl) Toppings 400 g Chinese wheat noodles 100 ml pickled cucumber (1 dl) 50 ml chili oil (½ dl) 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (30 ml) 2 pak choi Instructions Prepare the Peanut Sauce Combine all peanut sauce ingredients—peanut butter, chili oil, sesame oil, mirin, rice vinegar, and soy sauce—into a smooth sauce. Set aside until serving. Prepare the Seasoned Mince Mince garlic, grate ginger, and slice spring onions, separating white and green parts. Heat oil in a pan and add frozen soy mince without stirring for 2-3 minutes until thawed. Once firm on the bottom, gently stir until completely set. Break into bite-sized pieces for better texture. Add garlic, ginger, white spring onion parts, and all wet seasonings (chili oil, mirin, sesame oil, soy sauce). Sauté 2-3 minutes until flavors meld and onions soften. Top with sesame seeds and reserve for serving. Prepare the Broth Combine water, vegetable stock concentrate, and soy milk in a pot. Heat to boiling, avoiding vigorous boiling to prevent separation. Assembly and Serving Cook noodles per package directions; rinse in cold water if not serving immediately. Blanch pak choi in the noodle water. Layer 100 ml (1 dl) peanut sauce in the bottom of each bowl. Pour 250-350 ml (2½-3½ dl) warm broth over the sauce and stir until blended. Add noodles, arrange pak choi, and top with pickled cucumber, sesame seeds, and green spring onions. Stir thoroughly before eating. Notes Chili oil: Lao Gan Ma is recommended for authentic flavor and can be found in Asian grocery stores. ...