Trader Joe’s has released a new frozen Asian bowl dish that is sure to be a hit! This time it’s a Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanutty Noodle Bowl with chicken. I’m sure this will be another hit like the Spicy Orange Chicken Bowl or the Chicken Shawarma Bowls. These are easy and cheap ways to have a quick and healthy meal and Trader Joe’s seems to have no end in sight for them.
What are dandan noodles?
Dandan noodles, also known as Dan Dan Mian, is a classic dish originating from Sichuan cuisine, which is famous for its bold flavors, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from the liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavor of Sichuan peppercorns. The dish is named after the carrying pole (dandan) that street vendors used to transport and sell the dish in Sichuan province. These vendors would carry a pole on their shoulders with two baskets at each end, one containing the noodles and the other carrying the sauce.
The traditional dandan noodles consist of a spicy sauce containing preserved vegetables (often including Zha cai or Sui mi ya cai), mustard stems, chili oil, Sichuan pepper, minced pork, and scallions served over noodles. The essence of dandan noodles lies in the layering of flavors and textures. The noodles are typically thin and slightly chewy. The sauce is the heart of the dish, with a complex flavor profile that is spicy, salty, and slightly sweet, all at once. Peanuts or peanut butter is also often incorporated into the sauce, adding a subtle nuttiness. The minced pork is cooked until crispy and provides a savory and rich component that complements the spicy sauce. To finish, a sprinkle of scallions adds a fresh, oniony crunch. The dish is often served with a small amount of the cooking water from the noodles to balance the intensity of the flavors.
Each ingredient plays a vital role in creating a harmonious balance of flavors and textures, making dandan noodles not just a culinary delight but also an exemplar of the complexity and depth of Sichuan cuisine. Over the years, dandan noodles have gained popularity worldwide and have been adapted in various ways, but the core essence of this spicy, savory dish remains a beloved staple of Chinese cooking.
Trader Joe’s claims on their website that this product was: “Inspired by a savory dandan noodle dish (or dandanmien), a classic of traditional Szechuan cuisine, each Bowl is made with a bed of chewy wheat noodles, upon which our supplier piles tender, minced chicken and a medley of chopped vegetables that includes bok choy, onions, and carrots. Then, to bring everything together, they mix in a spicy, umami-rich peanut sauce. “, just looking at the ingredients on the back of the box, it looks like they nailed it in terms of real DanDan noodles.
Anyways, this dish is a kind of what is hot right now. Southern Asian flavors with chicken on noodles with some hot sauce. There are 500 calories all for $3.49! That is a screaming deal in my book. But the proof is in the tasting so let’s jump into that after we talk about preparation.
How to Prepare the Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanutty Noodle Bowl
Trader Joe’s offers two ways to make this bowl and I am guessing that 95% of you will simply follow the microwave instructions which are pretty simple.
- Cook on high heat in the microwave for about 3 minutes, take out and peel back the film and stir. Put it back in the microwave for another minute and let stand for a minute or two before eating.
The other way is to put it in a skillet:
- Take the frozen food out of the bowl and put it in a skillet with 3 tablespoons of water. Cover and heat for 10 or so minutes and stir occasionally until it’s really hot.
I choose the microwave method because I am lazy and I don’t see why I need to dirty another pan in my house! I could smell it quite strongly when it was microwaving. It smells just like a Dandan dish. Dan Dan noodles, bring it on!
How does the Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanutty Noodle Bowl Taste?
Based on the aromas coming out of my microwave, I kind of knew what to expect and when I took it out and took off the film, I was not surprised. It smells like curry, maybe a little too curry like and less like Dandan noodles but they are closely related dishes
Looking at the bowl after I took it out of the microwave and it was stirred up, it looked quite appetizing. There were peanuts, bok choy, and carrots scattered throughout the dish. The bowl had an appealing mix of chicken, noodles and vegetables. It almost looks like something I might get from a food truck or something.
But I really enjoyed it. Chili heads will say it’s not spicy enough and some will say it’s too spicy. I thought the spice level was just perfect. The noodles were cooked well. I wouldn’t say they were perfect but as long as they aren’t mushy or too hard, I am fine with it. The bok choy still had a nice crunch to it and offered a counterpoint to the spiciness of the rest of the dish. The chicken pieces are plentiful and I didn’t find them weird or too tough or anything like that. I thought they were seasoned appropriately. There are whole and chopped peanuts all throughout the dish and they add a nice element too. I think they did a pretty good job of delivering frozen dandan noodles to the masses.
All in all, I really liked this Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanutty (is that even a word?) Chicken Noodle Bowl and I am going to rate it 8 out of 10 Bells!
Ingredients
COOKED ASIAN STYLE NOODLES (ASIAN STYLE NOODLES [UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR {WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID}, WATER, POTASSIUM CARBONATE, WHEAT GLUTEN], WATER, CANOLA OIL), BOK CHOY, GROUND CHICKEN, WATER, CARROTS, GREEN ONIONS, BROWN SUGAR, PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS), TAMARI SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, SALT, ETHYL ALCOHOL [TO PRESERVE]), ROASTED PEANUTS*, TAHINI (SESAME), HOISIN SAUCE (BROWN SUGAR, WATER, RED MISO [WATER, SOYBEANS, RICE, SALT, ETHYL ALCOHOL {TO PRESERVE}], MOLASSES, TAMARI SOY SAUCE [WATER, SOYBEANS, SALT, ETHYL ALCOHOL {TO PRESERVE}], APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GARLIC PUREE [GARLIC, WATER, CITRIC ACID {ACIDIFIER}], GINGER PUREE [GINGER, WATER, SALT, CITRIC ACID {ACIDIFIER}], PLUM JUICE CONCENTRATE, SPICE, ARROWROOT POWDER, YEAST), GARLIC PUREE (GARLIC, WATER), CHICKEN BROTH, SALTED MIRIN (SAKE [WATER, RICE, KOJI STARTER CULTURE {ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE}], CANE SUGAR, WATER, SALT, YEAST EXTRACT), DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR, CANOLA OIL, CHICKEN FAT (CHICKEN FAT, NATURAL FLAVOR), SESAME OIL, SEASONED RICE VINEGAR (WATER, SWEET RICE, WHEAT BRAN, SUGAR, SALT), CORNSTARCH, SALT, SPICES (GINGER, STAR ANISE, FENNEL SEED, CINNAMON), CRUSHED CHILI PEPPERS, YEAST EXTRACT (AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, SALT), PAPRIKA OLEORESIN (COLOR), SZECHUAN PEPPER. *ROASTED PEANUTS MAY CONTAIN ALMOND, BRAZIL NUT, CASHEW, COCONUT, HAZELNUT, MACADAMIA NUT, PECAN, PINE NUT, PISTACHIO, WALNUT.
- CONTAINS SOY, SESAME, WHEAT, PEANUT.
