Utah Stories

Peanut-Sesame Noodles

Over the years, I’ve experimented with many, many different recipes, still trying to replicate the dandan noodles I loved so much. This recipe comes pretty close. I hope you’ll try it. Kids love it when it’s called simply “peanut butter noodles.” Best of all, this is a really quick and simple dish to prepare. 

|


When I lived in New York City, there was a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant on Division Street in Chinatown — the name of which I’ve long since forgotten — that served up the best sesame noodles I’ve ever tasted. These noodles — called dandan or dan dan in China — are a specialty of the Sichuan region, but are popular and sold by street vendors all over China. Over the years, I’ve experimented with many, many different recipes, still trying to replicate those Chinatown noodles I loved so much. This recipe comes pretty close. I hope you’ll try it. Kids love it when it’s called simply “peanut butter noodles.” Best of all, this is a really quick and simple dish to prepare. 

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. fresh Chinese egg noodles (preferred) or dried soba udon noodles
  • Salt
  • 1/4 cup crunchy or creamy peanut butter (I prefer crunchy for the added texture)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • Hot Asian chili sauce, to taste (I like to use Sriracha for this dish)
  • Minced green onions for garnish
  • Chopped roasted peanuts for garnish 

Method: 

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and chili sauce until smoothly blended.
  2. Next, cook the noodles according to package directions in generously salted water. Drain the noodles and rinse under cold water.
  3. Toss the noodles in the bowl with the peanut sauce and garnish with green onions and chopped peanuts

Serve the noodles chilled or at room temperature (I prefer room temperature) as a side dish.

FOR MORE RESTAURANT REVIEWS GO HERE.

THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER.

CLICK HERE AND RECEIVE WEEKLY RESTAURANT REVIEWS, TED’S FAVORITE RECIPE, AND DRINK OF THE WEEK.

Food writer Ted SchefflerOriginally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: click on their logos to visit their website

[envira-gallery slug=”food-logos”]



Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Related Articles


  • The “Monster” of Bear Lake

    Have you ever heard of Utah’s hidden lake monsters? Beyond the tourist buzz of Bear Lake, whispers of a mysterious creature have persisted for generations. Dive into the untold stories, rare sightings, and eerie folklore surrounding Utah’s most elusive aquatic legend. Are the rumors real, or just a product of overactive imaginations?

    To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.


  • Frisco, Utah: The Untold Story of the West’s Most Notorious Ghost Town

    Once a wild silver mining town, Frisco, Utah, was infamous for its nightly violence and lawless streets. Known as the “toughest mining town in the West,” its fortunes changed after a catastrophic mine collapse. Today, the deserted remains of Frisco, with its decaying kilns and empty streets, tell the story of a town that lived fast and died young. The mysteries of its vanished lawman and the outlaws who once ruled the streets still linger in its desolate landscape.

    To access this post, you must purchase Full Access Membership.


  • Utah Book Bans Ignite Cultural Clash: Educator John Arthur on Local Control

    A battle over book bans is sweeping Utah’s schools, pitting state laws against local communities’ rights to shape education. Utah Teacher of the Year John Arthur steps into the fray, challenging restrictions that he believes rob students of vital perspectives and the freedom to explore. Are blanket bans the answer, or are we sacrificing young minds in a cultural clash?


  • Why Utah’s Homelessness Crisis Needs a Radical Solution: The Peer-Led Village That’s Succeeding Where Government Programs Fail

    Utah’s homelessness crisis is getting worse, despite billions in taxpayer dollars spent on traditional solutions. But a bold, peer-led project in Salt Lake City is defying the odds, delivering life-changing results with a human-first approach. The Other Side Village is run by people who have been there—survivors of homelessness, addiction, and incarceration—and they’re proving that a radical, no-bureaucracy model can achieve what the government hasn’t. Could this be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for?