Brothy Chinese Noodles

Rating: 4.66 stars
35 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 26
  • 4 star values: 7
  • 3 star values: 1
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0

This dish was inspired by Chinese Dan Dan noodles--ground pork and noodles in a spicy broth. We use ground turkey and omit the traditional Sichuan peppercorns for convenience, but add hot sesame oil. Use toasted sesame oil instead if you want mild noodles.

EatingWell Test Kitchen
Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2010

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Recipe Summary

total:
30 mins
Servings:
6
Nutrition Profile:
Low-Calorie
Dairy-Free
Healthy Aging
Healthy Immunity
Healthy Pregnancy
Low Added Sugars
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add ground turkey, all but 2 tablespoons of the scallions, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring and breaking up the turkey, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

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  • Add broth, water, bok choy, noodles, soy sauce, vinegar and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Return the turkey mixture to the pan and stir to combine. Serve garnished with the reserved 2 tablespoons scallions and cucumber (if using).

Tips

Ingredient notes: Hot sesame oil can be found in the Asian-food section of most supermarkets.

Dried Chinese noodles, often used in Chinese soups and lo mein, cook up quickly and can be found in the Asian-food section of most supermarkets.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 1/3 cups
Per Serving:
292 calories; protein 22.3g 45% DV; carbohydrates 32g 10% DV; exchange other carbs 2; dietary fiber 5.9g 24% DV; sugars 1g; fat 10.1g 16% DV; saturated fat 2g 10% DV; cholesterol 43.3mg 14% DV; vitamin a iu 1607IU 32% DV; vitamin c 12.7mg 21% DV; folate 28.6mcg 7% DV; calcium 63.6mg 6% DV; iron 3.7mg 20% DV; magnesium 12.1mg 4% DV; potassium 502.6mg 14% DV; sodium 704.8mg 28% DV; thiaminmg 3% DV.
Exchanges:

2 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 lean meat, 1 fat

Reviews (35)

Read More Reviews
35 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 26
  • 4 star values: 7
  • 3 star values: 1
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
Donna
Rating: 5 stars
10/11/2019
I love this dish and have made it several times. Just don't let the noodles sit in the broth too long or they will soak up all the broth. Read More
Nikki
Rating: 5 stars
01/05/2017
I've been making this dish for about 3 years now and it's one of my favorite things to make in the winter-time. The first time I made it I followed the directions exactly and it was VERY good although I don't personally care for the cucumber matchsticks in a hot soup. It's super easy to make and I almost always triple or quadruple the batch in a large stockpot and freeze a good portion to use at a later date. There is very little change after thawing! I started to use ground organic chicken instead of the turkey JUST so I could label it "Chinese Chicken Noodle" instead of Brothy Chinese Noodles lol. My 13 year old son can't handle much spice so I usually make a mild version and then add sriracha to my own portion. This is honestly my favorite thing to eat when I have a cold/sinus congestion! The heat of the soup the spice opens you right up! I have also used regular green cabbage as a sub for the bok choy when I couldn't find it at the store. The only cons I can think of to this dish are that A) it's a little messy to eat! I usually use a fork and a spoon! and B) it's a little difficult to evenly distribute into multiple containers when I make bigger batches. I've found the easiest way is to use a pasta fork to catch the noodles and meat and then ladle the broth in:) Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
04/26/2016
Healthy comfort food I've been making this dish for several years. Even my meat and potatoes husband loves it! It is warm and hearty with all those familiar Asian favors. Pros: Quick flavorful healthy Cons: Not all items are easy to find Read More
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EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
08/19/2015
One of our go to favorites. This recipe is simple and delicious. I love the fresh finish of the cucumber. We often don't have the hot sesame so we add 3 fresh red chilies. Also we don't add the bok choy to the dish directly but rather add it to the bowl: noodles fresh bok choy broth and then garnish. The hot broth cooks the bok choy just enough that it is lightly cooked but not over cooked. Pros: Easy and flavorful Cons: Never lasts long in our kitchen Read More
islandgirlejfan
Rating: 4 stars
01/14/2015
This is good as a starter This is a great fast soup....especially if you are fighting a cold flu sinus and don't feel like the can of soup is what you need! I made mine with chicken breast because that is my preference. I just used one. I did not have hot sesame oil only the plain so I added some hot chili paste to my soup...about a teaspoon. Gave it just enough zip!:) I also added bean sprouts and a mushroom mixture. The mushrooms added 25 calories and the bean sprouts added 30 calories. Really added a nice touch to the soup. I will definitely make this my way again! Pros: Good flavor Cons: Needs more veggies! Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 4 stars
12/10/2014
Would make again I have had a cold the past few days and was craving something broth-y for dinner. This was perfect! Like others have suggested I didn't have hot sesame oil so I used regular sesame oil and Sriracha with a pinch of red pepper. I also added about 2 extra cups of chicken broth. Also my grocery was selling the noodles for 4 a box so instead I used three packs of ramen and discarded the seasoning packets; worked perfectly! Pros: Easy fast tasty Cons: N/a Read More
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Peggy W
Rating: 5 stars
08/03/2014
Delicious! I only used the 1 Tbsp Chili oil and the heat was just right for me. I plan to make this often though. Pros: Easy quick satisfying Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 4 stars
07/01/2014
awesome! I can't wait to make this again! Im going to make four times the recipe and freeze some. Adding sriratcha is definitely key flavor. Pros: easy delicious affordable. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
03/05/2014
I've made this 3 times! I've made this 3 times now and it is a family favorite. The ground turkey breast I use comes in a 20oz package so I use an extra Tbs oil when I cook the meat. I use an entire 10oz package of Japanese udon noodles for this so instead of 3/4 cup of water I add an extra 4 cups (yes 4 full cups seems to be the right amount so this is brothy enough). I add an extra Tbs of soy and an extra Tbs of vinegar since I have so much extra broth to flavor. This serves our family of 4 for two nights. It comes together so fast and I've used bok choy twice and spinach once..it was great. The leftovers heat up perfectly on the stove with a little extra water if needed. Pros: easy quick comforting filling tasty Read More
Margaret
Rating: 4 stars
02/19/2013
Easy & Delicious! This was fabulous but I agree it needs a little more broth added. I used regular sesame oil and then spiced it up a bit with a pinch of cayenne pepper and some Sirracha sauce. This recipe is a keeper! Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
11/19/2012
Tastes just like a great Asian dish! Very easy to make. Tastes great! The only changes I would make is if you want a more brothy noodles you will need more broth for sure. Also if it isn't flavorful enough for you simply add a bit more ginger and some red pepper flakes to your taste. Don't leave out the cucumber and scallion garnish it makes it so refreshing! Will make this again. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 4 stars
09/11/2012
Quick easy and YUM! I love this dish i made it just last night and it was a hit! It was tasty not too salty and very filling. I cant wait to have left overs for lunch! Only criticism would be that it probably needed a little more broth so next time i think i will add at least another cup. Pros: Very simple and quick to make. Cons: Needed a bit more broth Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 2 stars
08/07/2012
My boyfriend was pretty dead on when he said it tasted like kicked up chicken noodle soup. I found there wasn't enough broth for our taste so I added another 2 cups of broth plus more of the seasoning. I also added shredded carrots. I like tang so I also added 2 more tablespoons of vinegar. We ate it but I won't make it again. Read More
nk.chiemelu@gmail.com
Rating: 3 stars
03/04/2012
Easy noodle soup recipe I didn't have hot sesame oil so I used the regular toasted sesame oil I had on hand. The dish tasted a little bland to me so I added a few dashes of sriracha to it and it really made the difference. You definitely need that heat to take this dish to the next level. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
01/16/2012
Tastes just like authentic asian food great flavor This is a recipe that I will add to my regular list..VERY good taste made me want more! Pros: Simple to make lots of flavor quick prep Read More
GaffPearce
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
I made these noodles for my beautiful wife last night and they were EXCELLENT! I also made (as suggested) the Scallion Flat Breads and it was and outstanding combination. I did make one small change: I could not find hot sesame oil so I flavored 1 tablespoon of canola oil with 1 teaspoon Sambal Oleck chili paste to cook the turkey scallion etc. mixture and I added 1 teaspoon of Sun Luck chili oil to the broth bok choy noodle mixture. The spiciness was perfect even for my wife who does not like hot foods. The Sambal added some little red flecks to spice up the look. Next time I will add a little more ginger to bring out that flavor. Thanks EW kitchen folks you have a keeper here! I can't wait to try the flat breads with some hummus. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
This was a hit with the whole family and very easy. Much tastier than I expected given the short ingredient list. I used some hot oil and some toast sesame oil to insure it would not be too spicy. Next time I will add just a bit more ginger. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
I made this last night! SO good. Can't wait to eat leftovers for lunch today! I used regular sesame oil rather than the hot oil but sprinkled a pinch of chili powder in there too. It is delicious. Read More
DonnaBCR
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
My kids liked this too. I too used chili paste and sesame oil instead of hot sesame oil and the flatbreads were worth the effort. I added sriracha sauce to my bowl for extra kick. Read More
Cali4neagirl
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
Yum! Yum! Yum! Loved it. Used regular sesame oil instead of hot since that's what I had on hand. My three-year-old ate this too so that also made me happy. I will make this again. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
This is a new favorite recipe of mine. I have made it twice now with the hot sesame oil and it was not too spicy for my husband or for me but we tend to like spicy foods. Delicious and very easy to make! Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
Very tasty and quick. My 6-year old loved it on first bite but found it too spicy later so I'll substitute regular sesame oil for half the hot sesame oil next time. The spice level was fine for the adults. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
Very easy super tasty dinner. Definitely a keeper! Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
My wife and I love this dish. It is outstanding with some Steamfresh Asian vegetables over the top. We did have one problem with the recipe though. When we calculated the calories we came up with 381/serving instead of the 292 shown. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
Made this last night and it was delicious and easy! I think I used a little too much noodles as I didn't feel like I had a lot of broth or it was just absorbed by the noodles. It will definitely be added to my favorites! Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
My husband calls this potsticker soup because he says it tastes like the inside of a potsticker with dipping sauce. It is super fast to make. We use ground chicken instead of turkey. I like a little bit more spice so I add Sriracha to my serving. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
The recipe says it is modeled on flavorful and spicy dan dan noodles which are a fave of mine. I love spicy boldly flavored foods and even with doubling the seasonings and adding some Thai chile paste (sambal olek) I still found this recipe too bland. If you like your foods mildly seasoned or you are serving children it's a healthful dish and easy to prepare - just don't expect this to taste like dan dan noodles. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
I made this last night and my husband and I both loved it. I didn't have hot sesame oil so I just added about 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the oil before adding the turkey. It was the perfect amount of spiciness for my husband although I always like a bit more zing. I'll definitely be making this one again. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/30/2011
I also love this recipe. It's fast it's tasty and it's nourishing. Since everyone's mentioned the hot sesame oil here's my take. I just use regular sesame oil and put a bottle of srirachi on the table so everyone can adjust the heat to what they like (think the condiments at a pho joint). Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/29/2011
I absolutely LOVE this recipe. I have mad it numerous times and have made it my own by adding mushrooms and water chestnuts. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/29/2011
This is a great recipe. My kids love Ramen soup and making this I feel they get the taste of Ramen but with a healthy twist. I followed the recipe exactly and my noodles were totally soggy. So now I make it with more broth and add the noodles at the end so they have more bite. I did have the same problem as one of the reviewers when calculating the calories I came up with 381 and not 292 per serving. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 5 stars
10/29/2011
Love this dish! This is one that we always agree on. Have made it several times and it always turns out great. Didn't have hot sesame oil but used regular with some red pepper flakes sprinkled in. (I always add more when serving myself! He just can't handle the heat!) Have also subbed napa cabbage for the bok choy. Straw mushrooms are a good addition as well. Read More
v-wojcik@rogers.com
Rating: 5 stars
10/29/2011
I need a Chinese spoon This dish was delish! It was very Asian and it tasted like something from a Chinese restaurant. I didn't have hot sesame oil like the poster below so I too threw in some red chili flakes. I think it was an acceptable substitute. In response to those who analyzed the recipe and found that it came out to 380 calories: When I first plugged the ingredients into an online recipe analyzer I found that the recipe had 400 calories and 22g fat. I absolutely would not make this recipe if that was the real information (50% fat?!) but I really wanted to try it. The database I checked used Chinese noodles that contain a high proportion of fat and little protein. Continued in the comments section... Pros: Tasty easy and very filling Cons: None! Read More
Katrina
Rating: 4 stars
10/29/2011
Decent This is decent it's not something you'll serve at your next dinner party-but its pretty comforting and homey. Didn't have the hot sesame oil-used red pepper flakes. Also garnished with some cilantro-I think without the cilantro it would be very very bland. I also added 2 chicken bouillon cubes. Pros: Quick and Easy Read More
Kim Booth
Rating: 4 stars
10/29/2011
quick comforting and tasty Loved this soup. Easy and fast to make filling without being heavy and tasted like a soup I get at the noodle soup in town. And as a bonus it's relatively inexpensive to make. Read More
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