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    Home » Recipes

    May 4, 2023 by Cook With Dana

    Easy Tan Tan Udon (Tantanmen Recipe)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    udon noodles in spicy creamy broth minced pork spinach and green onions on top

    You need to try this tantanmen recipe that can be cooked under 30 minutes! The broth of tantanmen has a rich and complex flavor. The noodle soup tastes creamy and is made with a combination of spicy chili oil, soy sauce, sesame paste and soybean paste. The ground pork (can be substituted with chicken) adds a meaty flavor and texture to the soup, while the chewy udon noodles pair well with the spicy and savory broth.

    Add your favorite toppings and enjoy a warm & cozy noodle soup for your next easy meal at home!

    What is tantanmen?

    udon noodles in spicy creamy broth minced pork spinach and green onions on top with chopsticks

    Tantanmen is a Chinese dish that has been popularized in Japan and has been adapted into a Japanese version known as Tan Tan Men. While the Chinese version is typically made with a spicy soup made from chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns, the Japanese version often has a milder broth made with miso, soy sauce, or both.

    We are making the Japanese version that is less spicy than the Chinese version. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and you can add a variety of different toppings based on your own preference such as soft boiled eggs, chasu (bbq pork), bean sprouts, corn and more!

    What type of noodles should I use?

    frozen udon noodles
    my favorite frozen udon noodles to use!

    I always keep a pack of my favorite udon noodles in the freezer. These noodles are chewy and takes less than 3 minutes to cook! However, you can use any type of noodles you have in your pantry or refrigerator for this recipe. Traditionally, Japanese egg noodles or wheat noodles are added. You can get these noodles at Japanese grocery stores (Nijiya) or your local asian grocery (99 ranch or H-mart). No matter which noodle you use, the tantanmen dish will still taste delicious!

    Check out more delicious noodle (under 30 minutes) recipes:

    Seolleongtang beef soup with chives, green onions, noodles, kimchi and radish
    Seolleongtang with beef bone broth, kimchi noodles, green onions
    udon noodles with spicy sauce, green onions, fried egg on top in bright light
    frozen udon noodles stir fried in a spicy sauce for a delicious recipe
    spicy gochujang with kimchi mixed with noodles cucumber and egg on top with sesame seeds
    Kimchi Bibim Guksu is spicy gochujang sauce mixed with kimchi is mixed with white noodles and garnished with cucumbers and sesame seeds.

    INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR TANTANMEN RECIPE:

    sautéed minced pork

    • ½ tablespoon neutral oil – avocado or canola oil works! Look for anything that has a high smoke point
    • 1 inch ginger, peeled and minced
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 shallot, minced
    • ½ pound ground pork – you can substitute with ground chicken or impossible meat if you don’t eat pork
    • 1 tablespoon sake or shaoxing cooking wine – omit if you can’t have alcohol!
    • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soybean paste or miso paste– I prefer to use the Korean soybean paste due to it’s sweeter flavor
    • 1 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste – when you use sesame paste, keep in mind that you need to stir it heavily as the oil floats to the top and the paste is at the bottom.
    • 1 teaspoon chili oil – homemade is best!

    add broth

    • 1 cup unsweetened soy milk – alternatively, you can use oak milk! I used the brand Silk unsweetened soy milk for the best results. NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU USE UNSWEETENED SOY MILK! If you use regular, it will taste too sweet.
    • 1.5 cup chicken broth – I recommend bone broth for this to make the soup extra delicious!

    assemble

    • 2 packs ramen noodles or udon noodles – cook according to package directions
    • 1 green onion, sliced
    • spinach or bok choy
    • chili oil
    • sautéed minced pork

    HOW TO MAKE TANTANMEN:

    Prepare sautéed minced pork:

    Step 1. Mince 1 inch ginger, 2 garlic cloves and 1 shallot.

    Step 2. Heat pot on medium low heat. When the pot gets hot, add ½ tablespoon oil to the pot. Next, add minced ginger, garlic, and shallot. Fry for 1 minute.

    minced garlic shallots ginger in a pot sauteed in oil
    Fry minced garlic, ginger, and shallots in oil for 1 minute

    Step 3. Add ½ pound ground pork to the pan and break apart the clumps of meat. Then, add 1 tablespoon sake and fry the pork for 3 minutes until slightly brown.

    minced pork garlic shallots ginger in a pot sauteed in oil
    Add minced pork and sake to the pot and fry for 3 minutes

    Step 4. Once the pork has browned, add 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon soybean paste or miso paste, 1 teaspoon chili oil, 1 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste. Mix everything together and cook for 1 minute. OPTIONAL: set aside some minced pork topping so you can add it as a garnish at the assembly step.

    Add Broth:

    minced garlic shallots ginger in a pot sauteed in oil add chicken broth
    Gradually add chicken broth while stirring to incorporate minced pork to the broth

    Step 5. Add the 1.5 cups chicken broth gradually to the minced pork while stirring with a spatula. This ensure that you can combine them well.

    minced garlic shallots ginger in a pot sauteed in oil add chicken broth soy milk
    Gradually add soy milk to the broth and mix well

    Step 6. Next, gradually add 1 cup of soy milk while stirring. When the broth starts boiling, it is ready and you’re ready to assemble!

    Cook Noodles & Vegetables:

    udon noodles boiling in pot
    Boil udon or noodle of choice according to package directions. Feel free to make more toppings as you like!

    Step 7. Boil a pot of water and cook udon or ramen noodles according to package directions. If you wish, you can boil your spinach (10 seconds) or bok choy (3-5 minutes until your desired tenderness) at the same time.

    Assemble

    Step 8. Add the noodles to a bowl. Then, add your hot broth from Step 6. Finally, add your favorite toppings such as your spinach, soft boiled egg, mushrooms, etc. Garnish with sliced green onions and chili oil. Mix and enjoy the creamy noodles!

    udon noodles in creamy broth with spicy oil spinach

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    udon noodles with chicken and pork broth, pork mince, green onions and spinach
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Tantanmen (udon)

    Noodles served with savory and creamy broth topped with minced pork and vegetables.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Keyword: 30 minute, easy meal, japanese, noodles, soup
    Servings: 2 people

    Ingredients

    sautéed minced pork

    • ½ tablespoon neutral oil avocado or canola
    • 1 inch ginger peeled and minced
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 shallot minced
    • ½ pound ground pork can sub with chicken or impossible meat
    • 1 tablespoon sake can sub with shaoxing cooking wine
    • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soybean paste or miso paste
    • 1 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste can sub with tahini
    • 1 teaspoon chili oil add more if you like extra spicy!

    broth

    • 1 cup unsweetened soy milk
    • 1½ cup chicken broth

    assemble

    • 2 packs udon or ramen noodles
    • 1 green onion sliced
    • handful spinach or bok choy
    • chili oil to taste
    • sautéed minced pork

    Instructions

    • Mince 1 inch ginger, 2 garlic cloves and 1 shallot.
      1 inch ginger, 2 garlic cloves, 1 shallot
    • Heat pot on medium low heat. When the pot gets hot, add ½ tablespoon oil to the pot. Next, add minced ginger, garlic, and shallot. Fry for 1 minute.
      ½ tablespoon neutral oil, 1 inch ginger, 2 garlic cloves, 1 shallot
    • Add ½ pound ground pork to the pan and break apart the clumps of meat. Then, add 1 tablespoon sake and fry the pork for 3 minutes until slightly brown.
      1 tablespoon sake, ½ pound ground pork
    • Once the pork has browned, add 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon soybean paste or miso paste, 1 teaspoon chili oil, 1 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste. Mix everything together and cook for 1 minute. OPTIONAL: set aside some minced pork topping so you can add it as a garnish at the assembly step.
      1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon soybean paste or miso paste, 1 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste, 1 teaspoon chili oil
    • Add the 1.5 cups chicken broth gradually to the minced pork while stirring with a spatula. This ensure that you can combine them well.
      1½ cup chicken broth
    • Next, gradually add 1 cup of soy milk while stirring. When the broth starts boiling, it is ready and you're ready to assemble!
      1 cup unsweetened soy milk
    • Boil a pot of water and cook udon or ramen noodles according to package directions. If you wish, you can boil your spinach (10 seconds) or bok choy (3-5 minutes until your desired tenderness) at the same time.
      2 packs udon or ramen noodles, handful spinach or bok choy
    • Add the noodles to a bowl. Then, add your hot broth from Step 6. Finally, add your favorite toppings such as your spinach, soft boiled egg, mushrooms, etc. Garnish with sliced green onions and chili oil. Mix and enjoy the creamy noodles!
      1 green onion, handful spinach or bok choy, chili oil, sautéed minced pork

    Did you make this recipe? 💖

    Please give it a 5-star rating or leave a comment below to share your experience! Tag @cookwithdanaa on instagram to show me your beautiful creations😊

    Cook With Dana is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you purchase something through my amazon affiliate links, I earn a small commission that helps me produce more cooking content at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Cook With Dana!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Alana says

      May 25, 2023 at 11:21 pm

      5 stars
      Dana this is sooooo good!!! Just made it and I love it!!!

      Reply
      • Cook With Dana says

        June 04, 2023 at 11:53 pm

        Ah thanks Alana!! So happy you got to try it!

        Reply

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