Pork Dan Dan Noodles with Radish & Garlic-Lime Peanuts

Prepare Ingredients:

Wash the fresh produce. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Peel and mince the garlic. Thinly slice spring onions, separating the white bottoms and green tops. Zest the lime; cut into 6 wedges. Cut the radish into matchsticks. Chop peanuts. In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, ¼ cup of water and as much of the doubanjiang paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be.

Make Garlic-Lime Peanuts:

In a medium-large pan, heat oil on medium until hot. Add half the garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until golden brown. Reduce the heat to low and add the peanuts. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the peanuts are thoroughly coated. Add the lime zest; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

Cook Pork:

In the same pan, heat oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pork mince and season with salt and pepper. Cook, frequently breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Drain off and discard the drippings. Transfer the cooked pork to a bowl and set aside, leaving any browned bits in the pan.

Make Sauce:

Add oil to the same pan on medium-high until hot. Add the white bottoms of the spring onions, remaining garlic and the spice mix. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened and fragrant. Add the peanut butter mixture, the juice of 2 lime wedges and ¾ cup of water; stir to thoroughly combine. Remove from heat.

Cook Noodles:

Add the noodles to the pot of boiling water. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until tender. Drain thoroughly and rinse under warm water to prevent the noodles from sticking together.

You Plate It:

Add the cooked pork and noodles to the pan of sauce. Cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and heated through. Divide the pork and noodles between dishes. Garnish with radish, green tops of the spring onions, garlic-lime peanuts and remaining lime wedges. Enjoy!